Hud is almost dressed. I’m still in my towel. ‘Hell, yeah, it’s true,’ he says, pocketing his key chain. ‘I saw the number of hoops my brother had to jump through just to get on a date with his wife, Ally. You put in the effort, she’ll follow through, alright. If she’s into you.’
‘So… you think I shouldn’t let it go?’
Hudson closes his locker with a bang. ‘Okay, this conversation just got way too cryptic for me. I say if you like her, go get her.’ He picks up his bag, holds up one finger. ‘Except if she’s CMC. Those girls, I recommend you stay well clear. Unless you wanna torture yourself for the next five years or whatever. I gotta go. Later, bruh.’
He puts on a pair of Ray-Bans and I bid Hudson farewell. Takes me a moment to realize that he gave completely conflicting advice. The locker room falls silent, save for the sound of water dripping from the showers.
I get dressed, but in my mind, I already know my answer.
CMC or not, there’s no way I’m letting Serenity go.
On my route home, I drive out my way to The Bounty and pull up in the parking lot. I sit for a minute and watch through the windows. I can’t see her. I leave the pickup and head for a copy shop on the other side of the road to purchase a pen, some paper and a bunch of envelopes. If she’s not gonna give me her phone number, then I gotta go old school. Once I’ve got everything, I go back to my vehicle, get on my phone and spend an hour doing some research. When I’m happy everything’s set up, I reach for the pen and scribble out my note. Takes me a few attempts until I’m happy.
The interior of the diner is quiet when I finally make it inside. I take a seat and watch as an older waitress brings me a menu.
‘I’ll just get a soda,’ I say.
‘That’s all?’ she asks.
‘That’s all.’
‘Sure,’ she says, keeping a hold on the menu as I order a Diet Coke with ice.
‘Is Serenity here today?’ I ask.
She shakes her head. ‘She was here earlier. She left already.’
‘Will you see her soon? You think you could give her something for me?’
She frowns. ‘Uh. Sure, I guess?’
I pull out a sealed envelope with Serenity’s name written on it and pass it to her. I think I see her lips twitch into a smile. I wait for my soda, and I can’t stop my knee from skipping up and down. In the parking lot, my expensive pickup stands out.
I can’t get away with coming here much longer.
When I get home, River’s in the den watching TV with her feet up.
‘You wanna go catch a movie or something?’ she asks once we’ve exchanged hellos.
‘Can’t. Gotta take Lemon Conway out to dinner. I gotta go in a half hour.’
She throws her head back and covers her eyes. ‘I forgot. You’re so darnnice. And not even a little bitdumbfor agreeing to this. Why you going so early anyway?’
‘Told her I need my beauty sleep. Tomorrow night’s curfew at a hotel before Monday night’s opener.’
‘I guess no nightcap for Lemon then.’
I pull a face. ‘Like that was ever gonna happen.’
‘So why are you even taking her out then?’
I give a pronounced shrug. ‘When Samantha Conway asks you to do something… I guess you gotta go do it.’
River snorts. ‘That’s ridiculous. You know, she and Mom are like kindred spirits. Both tryna set you up on dates with girls you don’t wanna go out with.’
I rub my eyes. I see Serenity’s face staring back at me and hope she gets my note.
‘How about you call somebody and get them to go see a movie with you?’
