“I enjoy American cuisine, long walks on the beach, and sunsets. I’m as cliché as they come,” he leans in closer, “but I promise I’m a good time.”
The feeling of his breath on my ear is a feeling I want more of.
“American cuisine? Like hot dogs and hamburgers?”
“Hot dogs, hamburgers, you name it and I’ll eat it. Maybe throw in an eagle flying above me as I chug a beer for added effect. But not in an ‘I love my country’ way.” He says the last part in a southern accent that causes me to start laughing again. His own laugh is deep and it’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard. “Okay, Maisie Winslow. It’s your turn now.”
Our hands are still connected from the handshake but instead of letting go, he continues to rub his thumb against mine. A soothing feeling that doesn’t go unnoticed but I try to remain unaffected on the outside.
“Um, hi. I’m Maisie Winslow. I’ve lived in Ruby Lake my whole life and have worked at Ruby’s Diner since I was barely able to walk.” It feels like his eyes don’t leave mine the entire time I talk. “As much as I love American cuisine, I think Italian would have to be my go to, or Chinese.”
“Great choices, great choices.” He continues caressing my hand with the pad of his thumb. “Are you a movie or TV show binger?”
“A little bit of both.” I ponder the question. “I like rewatching movies more than I like watching new ones if that makes sense.”
“I do the same thing, more so because it’s hard to sit down and pay attention to a new movie.”
“Exactly!” I yell a little louder than expected.
“Tell me how youreallyfeel, Winslow,” he says with a smirk.
“Wren is always trying to get me to watch new movies with her but I just can’t sit and watch a screen for hours at a time.” His eyes are still locked on mine, never once looking away. “I’ve tried explaining it to her but she just doesn’t understand. We compromise and watch a TV show we like instead.”
“What kind of TV shows do you two watch together?” I notice he keeps asking me questions and how easy it feels to talk to him.
“Currently we’re watching the new season of The Challenge and an older season when there’s no new episodes to watch.”
“I used to watch that in high school, I didn’t know it was still running.”
“I think they just passed season forty. If you want to, I'm sure you could come over and watch with us sometime.” The words tumble out of my mouth before I realize what I’m asking. “Obviously, only if you want to. That’s not part of the list or anything. You don’t have to hang out with us, or me, or—” My rambling dies off.
“That sounds fun, Maisie. You have my number so just let me know and I’d love to come over.”
“Really?”
“If you haven’t noticed yet, I’d really like to spend more time with you, especially since I only have a few months here” Hegently squeezes my hand. “I think I’d eat up breadcrumbs of your time if that’s all you had to offer.”
His confession leaves me speechless. I want to be his friend but I also don’t want to put time into someone who is just going to leave. My father left me, my grandma left me, everyone leaves. I can’t take that again.
I know my father leaving isn’t the same as the way my grandma left us but it shows that in the end, everyone will leave you, and one day you’ll leave them too. My mom has had my father, her father, and now her mother leave… I can’t do that to her. What if this becomes more than friends and I have to choose between my mom and Henry?
I shut my brain down knowing that I’m overthinking by a long shot.
“I see your mind moving again, Maisie.”
“I’m just…” He’s leaving in a few months and most likely won’t come back, I need to be honest now before he gets any ideas. “I can’t be more than friends with you.”
“I would love to be your friend.” His smile beams across his face. “I’m not looking for anything either, that’s not why I’m here. That’s not to say I wouldn’t want to be more than friends but I’ll happily take being friends over nothing at all.”
“I mean, we can’t—I can’t—I think you’re attractive, and I think you think the same about me, and I could be wrong in that I think you’re flirting with me. I can’t be more than friends with someone who is going to leave.” I let out a breath that I didn’t notice I was holding when my eyes meet his. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m happy to know you think I’m flirting with you, that means I’m doing it right.” He winks but somehow it doesn’t feel like the flirty Henry I’ve met. “If being friends is what we will be, then I will be the best friend you’ve ever had.”
“I don’t think Wren would agree,” I playfully argue.
“I will be the bestguyfriend you’ve ever had.” He raises his eyebrows. “Now, let’s see what this Fuck It List is all about.”
11
