“You realize what you’ve done right?” I ask him. “I’m goingto pester you about these nonstop. Before work, between tables, when you drive me home if it’s raining. At the next bonfire because clearly this needs to be your new party trick.”
Whoa, who is this girl just assuming she’ll go to the next bonfire? I’ll call that progress.
“Say less,” he says, unperturbed. “That sounds like a promise that we’ll stay together at the next one, which is fine by me.”
By now we’re in the kitchen, joining Shelby to try the special. Myles is grinning and so am I, and as I ooh and aah over the shrimp scampi that Chef Ray concocted today, my mind is still on the guy standing beside me. I think about all the things I’m learning about him that Kat doesn’t know, and instead of feeling bad about it, I think about how certain I am that he wore the same smile last night when we were texting.
July
15PLAYLIST:main character energy
TWO DAYS BEFORE THEFourth of July, I get a text from an unknown number.
I stacked the oranges all by myself today, but I did it more like an oval instead of a pyramid.
I know who it is right away, obviously. Still, I say,Who is this?
Gregory: Really? Are you stacking oranges with someone else?
Gregory: I thought that was our thing
Me: How did you get my number?
Gregory: Your dad
Me: WHAT
Me: You did NOT ask my dad for my phone number!
Gregory: hahahahahaha
Gregory: Calm down, I got it from Sandy in the bakery. It cost me seven minutes of stories about her grandkids.
Me: I’m… not sure that’s better. She definitely thinks something’s going on between us now.
Me: Oh God, no wonder she was smiling at me all weird yesterday!
Gregory: I think she’s already planned our wedding cake
Me: OMG
Gregory: I’m joking!
Gregory: It’s not as fun to mess with you when I can’t see your face.
Me: Do you work today?
Gregory: No.
Me: Have you spent time with the ocean yet?
Gregory: It’s not like… a person
Gregory: So, no
Me: Meet me at the pier in 30 minutes. Then you can see my face while I force you to bond with her.
Gregory: Do I have to?
