I reach into the bag, grab the last chip, and hold it out.
He smiles, leans over, and it’s his turn to take it straight from my fingers with his teeth.
A jolt runs through me.
He chews, swallows. I pull my stare away from him, out to the ocean, the waves breaking against the rocks.
We drive with the windows cracked. Salt and chip ghost the cab. Trent has a mate in Paekakariki, and since we’re close he asks if it’s okay to swing by. I don’t feel like meeting others. The way I shift says it.
“Never mind.”
“No, go ahead,” I say, one hand landing on his arm, with the crescents. “Have fun. I’ll walk.”
Outside, he throws me the keys. “Meet you back at the truck in a couple of hours.”
A couple of hours pass.
I return to the truck. It’s parked outside his friend’s place, but I’m not going to be that guy, knocking, making a fuss about the time. I sling myself into the passenger seat.
Minutes stretch. My foot bounces. I watch the friend’s front door.Who is this friend that’s captured your attention, that makes you late?
I’m full of irritation and eagerness. Open, open, open.
I pick a few crumbs of salt off my jacket, then glance at the clock.
Only three minutes past the hour. Four.
I chuckle and scrub my face, but my teeth are clenched. How weird, this feeling. I might as well be waiting for a lifeboat while I’m stranded at sea.Hurry. What’s taking so long? I’ll drown if you don’t get here.
I scroll my phone. Message Grandpa.
Six minutes.
I stretch. All my muscles feel itchy.
I knock my head back against the seat and groan?—
The door opens.
Seven minutes past.
Just seven minutes did all that.
Trent slings himself behind the wheel. “Sorry for making you wait.”
“Pfft. Just got here too.”
“He wanted all the Grandpa goss.”
I wait until we’re on the way home. Try for a casual tone as I slouch into my seat like this is a spontaneous thought, not one going in circles in my head. “By the way, who is he?”
“Is this Port, Starboard, or Lighthouse?”
I hesitate. “Sure.”
He answers, “My ex.”
“Cool.” As much as I want that to be true, it’s an absolute, abject lie. “You’re still friends.”
