“What about Saylor? That’s unique. I don’t think I’ve met a sailor that didn’t work on a ship.”
“Ahahah. Funny. No, she found my name on a Mormon mommy blog, and I wish I was joking. This woman had made a list of all these names and words with alternate spellings,and she saw Saylor and it just stuck. She was committed to all her kids having the same initial for some reason, so we all got S names.”
“You would think she would have done all C names or really taken it to the extreme and called you three like Cristen, Crista, and Cristi.”
“I’m sure she thought about it, but don’t mention it to her. She might try and change our names now just for the plot.”
“I promise I won’t.” Heaven chuckles.
“I really like you,” I tell her quietly, and then my heart tries to leap out of my chest when she smiles.
“I like you too.”
“Are you gonna forget about me when you’re a famous tattoo artist?” I ask her.
“Are you going to forget about me when you become the president of Fosters Healing Ointment?”
“Shut up!” I laugh, and then pinch my mouth shut. We don’t need her parents to know we’re still awake. “I’m probably gonna trot right over to USC with Jake and become a brilliant finance major. Then I’ll use my super-extensive knowledge of finance to help you open your own shop.”
“I’d appreciate that. Thank you.”
“You’re gonna be amazing.”
“I don’t know about that,” she says.
“What do you mean? Heaven, you’re such a good artist.”
“I know, but I don’t. I’m still nervous about all the other stuff.”
“Hey, isn’t that why I bribed you? So I could help youfigure it out…and hide from my mom, but more importantly so I could help you figure it out.”
“Yeah, I guess.” She laughs.
“Well, I’m still here, and USC isn’t far. I got you, Princess Cutie. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Thanks, Say-Say.”
I lean up and close the small space between us, and I kiss her. And then it feels like we’re picking up where we left off before her parents came home, and this time things go a little further. They go a lot further, actually. So far that I’m glad I didn’t do it with Rhy or Tagger, that I didn’t have a chance to think about it with Jake. I’m glad I saved this moment for Heaven.
Sometime in the early morning, I slip out to use the bathroom and do the thing I don’t want to do—ease onto the air mattress that’s been abandoned on the floor. I want to climb back in with Heaven, but I don’t think her parents need to find us asleep together in her bed.
•••
The next day, it’s pretty clear I’m going to have to sleep over again or at least stay real late, if we want to stick to the marathon aspect of the square.
“I’ll limit it to a five-movie marathon next year,” Dr.Campbell says as he makes us waffles. “My bad.”
“Hopefully, I’ll be working at Ink & Pearl next summer so there might not be a bingo,” Heaven says. The thought ofthat really bums me out, I realize instantly. I know we didn’t plan to do this together, but it’s been so much fun low-key avoiding getting an actual bingo. It makes me sad that this might be the one and only time we take on this silly bingo challenge together.
Dr.Campbell whips around pretending to cry. “What do you mean there won’t be another summer bingo?” he screeches.
“You gotta get over it, Dad.” Heaven laughs.
“Fine, whatever. I’m sure the dogs will want to do it.”
“You can do elaborate treat challenges for them in the backyard and around the neighborhood,” I suggest.
“Now, that’s smart thinking,” he says, waving his tongs at me.
