She sent a picture of a small, hairy, one-eyed mutt with a severe overbite that made Ben laugh out loud.
Julie:don’t tell either of them, but i am OBSESSED WITH HIM AND KINDA MAD I DIDN’T GET TO ADOPT HIM FIRST
Ben:you know Snoozles would never allow a dog in her realm
Julie’s cat barely allowed Ben into her realm. Or Julie, for that matter.
Julie:ugh. I know. What a bitch
Julie:i love her so much
A thought struck Ben.
“Hey.” He looked up from his phone. “I know you said you didn’t grow up with TV, but do you have a TV now?”
“Yeah.” Alexei’s ears went pink. “I do.”
“Do you watchChef’s Special?”
“I’ve…heard of it?”
“Ah.” Ben shrugged, some of his excitement fading. “Well, last summer, Julie’s twin, London, was on it, and they kicked ass.” He shook his head. It was still hard to believe this event had actually happened. “It’s pretty much my closest brush with celebrity. Thought you might think I was cool.”
Ben unplugged his phone and his portable charger as he talked. They had wasted enough time here already.
“What are you writing, by the way?” he asked as he wound the charger cords, stuck them back in his pack. “If you don’t mind me asking.”
Alexei blinked down at his journal. As he closed it, Ben realized it had a different cover than the one he’d seen Alexei writing in previously.
“I never mind you asking,” he said. Ben’s heart might have fluttered. “I was writing about this beach house in Long Beach we used to go to. Long Beach, Washington,” he clarified as he put the journal in his pack. “And birdhouses. Separately. Actually,” he segued without a pause, “do you mind if I write down one more thing?”
“Sure.”
Alexei retrieved the other journal Ben was more used to seeing. Ben tried not to look at what Alexei was writing; he really did. But he’d already stuffed all his things away, eaten his last onion ring. There was nothing to keep him from seeing Alexei flip to the very last page and write, at the bottom of a list titled “Alexei 2.0,” “Watch Chef’s Special.”
Ben didn’t know what it meant. Alexei 2.0. And while he knew Alexei had just given Ben express permission to ask him anything, something about it felt too personal to ask about here, in the middle of Burger King.
Because Ben already knew there was nothing wrong with Alexei 1.0.
And he worried this list meant Alexei didn’t feel the same.
“Okay.” Alexei shoved the journal away. “Let’s go.”
They were back on the trail a half hour later. The sun and wind were relentless once more, the path a never-ending cycle of inclines and descents over brown hills, the landscape even more barren of significant vegetation than yesterday. The heat wore at them, the sky a hazy shade of blown-out blue, and too soon, the excitement of the Cabazon Dinosaurs seemed far away.
They stopped frequently for small water breaks, to wipe the sweat out of their eyes. Lizards skittered by their feet, over and over. Ben paused to take a picture of a flowering silver cholla cactus. It was only then, when Ben shoved his phone back in his pocket, that Alexei spoke for the first time since their hitch back to the trail.
“You do know,” he said slowly, “that I already think you’re cool.”
Ben blinked, trying to piece together where this comment had even come from. Finally, he remembered what he’d said about London andChef’s Special.
“Thanks, Lex,” he said, trying to keep his voice neutral. “I think you’re cool, too.”
Alexei didn’t say anything. Only turned and kept walking down the trail.
Ben took another long breath before he followed.
Chapter Eight
