I smile at him. “I think that would make him very happy.”
“I think my mom’s on board too,” he says. “She said he reminds her of a cat she had growing up. I just hope he’ll warm up to her, too. It’s gonna drive her crazy if she can’t make him like her.”
“I mean, I don’t blame her,” I say. “It’s been super annoying that he picked you as his favorite.”
Gregory shrugs. “I’ve been more patient with him.”
“I was patient!”
He shakes his head, grinning at me. This one feels real. “You tried, but you gave up on him too quick. Especially every time the other one would come out and distract you.” Gregory tips his head up, and the way the fading sun touches his face makes me wish I had my camera with me. “I decided early on, I’d sit there for as long as it took. I knew if I waited and didn’t rush things, it would be worth it in the end.”
Something flutters beneath my ribs and sinks deep into my bones. I don’t really know how to respond. Gregory doesn’t seem bothered by my sudden silence, and we walk quietly for several minutes. I nudge him to turn left at a stop sign, and we transfer from the sidewalk to the sand.
“Why did you approach me?” I blurt out. “That first night. At the bonfire.” It’s something I’ve always wondered about.
He shrugs, which I don’t accept as an answer.
“You sort of looked at me like you thought you knew me,” I add. I glance up at him, walking tall beside me, and find him watching me.
A hesitant, sorrowful sort of smile tugs at his lips. “A sad person knows another sad person when he sees one.”
Well. That knocks the breath out of me. “I wasn’tsad.”
“Amelia. Come on.”
My shoulders fall. As Gregory pointed out, I’m a terrible liar. And even though there are very few people who can, I think this guy can read me like a book. “Okay, fine. I was. I was also kind of mad.”
“Yeah, I got that.”
I glare at him.
He laughs. “I kind of liked it.”
“Sass does it for you, huh?” I’ve noticed that the more we’ve hung out. He smiles more when I’m in a feisty mood. Which is often when I’m with him.
His gaze is on the sand in front of us when he replies. “Coming from the right girl, it does.”
I’m too scared to ask what he means bythat.
Gregory has mercy on me and changes the subject. “So have you heard from Kat lately?”
“Yesterday, actually,” I say. “It was the first time she called me in forever. She’s kind of been ignoring me.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. At the beginning of the summer, I really thought we’dstay in touch. Almost like she was still here. But after so many unanswered messages, or responses that came days later, it was clear I’m not a priority for her. I’d almost given up on her.”
“Like, gave up the friendship?” he asks, sounding surprised.
I frown, turning that over in my mind for a few seconds. “No… At least, I don’t think so. I talked to my mom about it, and she thinks Kat’s just swept up in the excitement of something new and different. Which makes sense, I guess. Her new school is big and has all sorts of stuff going on even in the summer, and there are a lot of girls our age in the tennis program. The town’s a lot bigger, so there’s always something going on. I decided maybe she needs some time to figure out how she fits into it all. I’m just giving her space to do that.”
I’m surprised at how reasonable it all sounds. I don’t mention that it has also made it easier for me to justify not telling her about Myles. If we don’t talk that much, I haven’t had many opportunities, have I?
I pause to pick up a green piece of sea glass, and Gregory says, “Sounds like a load of crap to me.”
I straighten and twist around to stare at him.
“What?” he asks, unmoved by my shock. “You’re being way too nice about it. She’s being a shitty friend, and I think we should call it what it is. You wouldn’t treat her that way, and you deserve better.”
