Summer's End Page 20

  Friday is the longest day, though I'm able to focus a little better than yesterday. At least we don't have volleyball practice. I've ridden the bus to school every day this week, and though I haven't complained about it, it totally sucks. Tobi's given me a ride or my mom has picked me up after practice every night. On Fridays, I'll have to ride the bus home, unless I can con Tobi into taking me home or hanging out at her house. Yes! That's an excellent idea. Go home with Tobi on Fridays. Our class schedules aren't the same. She's taking some business courses, and I'm going the science route. We do have PE together last period.

  I wait for her at the end of the hall. “I have an excellent idea.”

  She rolls her eyes. “This is dangerous.”

  I ignore her eye roll and comment. “What do you say to me coming over to your house on Fridays after school or giving me a ride home? I really don't want to ride the bus home on Fridays.”

  She lifts an eyebrow. “That might be a possibility. Let me talk with my parents and see what they say.” I hug her. “I don't think they'll care.” She sends a quick text on the way to the gym.

  “Tell your dad I'll give him a great big grizzly bear hug.”

  After school, we walk back to our lockers to get our things. I'm hoping her Mom or Dad has texted her back. I rush to her locker after I grab my stuff. “Well?”

  “Well … they must be busy. Nothing, yet.”

  “Ugh!” I lean back against the lockers. “That's okay. One time won't kill me. I better go, so I don't miss the bus. I'll see you later.” I push off the lockers and start down the hall to the bus line.

  Her phone vibrates. “Wait.” I turn around and her head is down, reading the message. A big smile spreads across her face. She looks up through her lashes at me. “Someone is waiting for you outside,” she sings.

  My shoulders lift and I feel light as air. “Lane?”

  Tobi raises her eyebrows and bites her lip as she nods.

  I pump my fist in the air. “Yes! Thank you, Lane.” I do a little wiggle dance and hook Tobi's arm to walk out together.

  Tobi bumps me with her hip. “Did you think about what I said yesterday?”

  “About you stinking so bad that the old men leave you alone at the sale barn?”

  She scoffs. “No, about Lane and you, and it being okay.” She leans forward and cranes her neck so she’s in my face.

  I lean away from her. “Yeah, I thought about it.”

  “Well?”

  As hard as I try, I can’t keep from smiling. “We do have something, tendencies that surpass the status of just friends.” I try to be coy and not exactly forward. Just to drive her crazy.

  “I know. Are you going to do anything about it?”

  “Mmm, I don't think I can keep from it anymore.” I concede to what she’s known for a while, glancing back and forth between her knowing eyes and the rock parking lot under our feet. I trust she won't say a word to anyone. She's not a gossip, like the girl peeling out of the parking lot in her red mustang.

  She gives me a quick side hug around the neck. “Good. I've seen the way you two look at each other. You'd be crazy not to.” She lets out a giggle jetting her eyes over to Lane's truck, instructing me to look that way.

  Lane has his windows down. My heart does a flip-flop when our eyes connect

  “It's so weird without you here. We miss you.” Tobi rests her arms on the open driver's side window frame. I walk around and get in.

  “Thanks.” Lane watches me shut the door and gives me a wink before turning back to Tobi. “I miss you guys, but I don't miss this school.”

  I buckle my seat belt. “Am I glad to see you. I thought I was going to have to ride the bus home.” He grins. His eyes tell me everything without voicing a single word, I'm not sure if Tobi notices. Who am I kidding? She notices.

  Tobi clears her throat. “What's going on this weekend? Do you want to get the gang together?” I've gone home after practice every night this week. My parents aren't big fans of going out during the week. I'm not either, especially since I've been able to have Lane to myself this week.

  “Nah. I think I'm going to lay low this weekend. I need to finish packing. Stuff like that.”

  “How about I call you later today, Tobi. Don't forget to talk to your parents about Fridays, please. I'm begging you.”

  She smiles back at me. “I won't forget. Call me. Maybe tomorrow the three of us can hang out or something?”

  Lane shrugs. “Sure, maybe.” He starts the truck.

  Tobi walks off to get in her car turning around half way there with an I told you so grin on her face, then turns back around with an arm extended high above her, waving good-bye. I chuckle and shake my head at her.

  Lane reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze. “Let’s get out of here.”

  We aren't past Lake Nellie yet when I unbuckle and slide over. “It feels like I haven't seen you in days.” I hug his arm and put my head on his shoulder.

  He peeks at me for a moment. I missed his smile. “I like when you sit close to me.” He clasps my hand in his. “And tell me what's in that beautiful mind of yours.”

  I feel like I can breathe again … as if a thousand-pound weight is lifted off me. I'm tired of being at war with my feelings for Lane. Yesterday wore me out mentally. Why not just go with it? I kiss him on the cheek while he's driving.

  “Are you trying to make me wreck?” He teases. “You must really hate riding the bus if you're willing to kiss me to get out of it.” I don't respond verbally, only stay close, resting my hand in his. We don't speak for a while. Lane sings along with a couple songs on the radio and I listen. I love the warmth of his hand in mine. I breathe deep the hint of his cologne that hangs between us. We turn off the main road as if going to his house.

  “Where are we going?” I wouldn't mind going somewhere other than my house or his right now.

  “I need to stop by my house before I take you home. Is that okay?”

  I sit up a little straighter, allowing some space between us. “Yeah, sure.”

  “You don't have to move.” He places his hand on my knee. It makes me flinch, so he moves it to the steering wheel.

  “What about your mom?”

  “I think she suspects I'm chasing after you since I've been spending every moment possible with you the past two weeks.”

  A smile spreads across my lips and in my heart. But then I realize his mom suspects, and my heart drops. “Yeah, I think my mom does, too.” I lay my head back against the seat.

  “Why do you think that?”

  “Last night, she went for a walk with me. She said she thinks there’s something different between us, and if there is we better tell dad before he finds out from someone else.” My face pinches at the thought of having another conversation about dating with Dad. “I'm not sure I can handle two more years. You're lucky; your parents are pretty laid back about things.”

  He tilts his head to the side. “Not everything. My dad has his moments, too.” We pull in his drive. “Your dad will be really ticked off if he thinks I'm going behind his back. You know that, right?” He parks, turns off the ignition, and opens the door. I notice both his parent’s cars are here. He waits with his hand extended for me to get out on his side.

  “You think my dad will be thrilled at the idea of us together, but I'm not too sure about that.” We walk to his house side by side. “I don't want to tell him because it’ll change everything. If we don't, and he finds out somehow, it'll be hell to pay. It might even cause a rift between your parents and mine.” We stop at the steps.

  “Then we tell them. We explain it's all new to us, and we aren't sure about anything other than neither of us wants to go out with anyone else.” He puts his arm around me, putting us in motion up the steps. “We are still best friends, no matter what happens.” He stops at the door with his hand on the handle. “Are you ready?” His smile is warm and encouraging.

  Shaking my head, tension knots up my shoulders. There’s a desperati
on in my voice. “No. No, I'm not ready.”

  “It will be fine.”

  I try to swallow the knot in my throat. “No! Let's wait. Just a couple days. Please?”

  He lets loose of the handle. “It won't be any easier in a couple days.”

  Our voices are hushed. “I know, but … let's just be us for today and tomorrow. Everything's going to get weird with our parents since they're best friends, and we spend so much time together.”

  He wraps his fingers around my upper arms. “We aren't doing anything wrong. We don't need to hide anything from anyone.”

  I’m out of breath. “Tobi knows, so, we aren't hiding.” I'm trying to hold on just a bit longer.

  He takes a step back. “Did you tell her?”

  “No.” I step closer. “You know Tobi. She knew before I knew.”

  He holds his hands up. “I didn't tell her.”

  “I know.” I glance down at our feet. “Let's just do what you need to do here, and we can talk about it on our way to my house.” He waits, debating. “Okay?”

  He sighs with twisted lips while he opens the door.

  17

  Time is slipping by. It's already six-thirty. We get our fishing gear and meet on the path to Fox Creek. We didn't really argue, but we didn't necessarily come to an agreement on our drive from Lane's house to mine. Both his parents and mine have been more talkative than usual tonight, taking up more time than I would’ve liked anyway. Finally, alone and out of sight, I move my pole to my other hand, so I can twine my fingers with his. He smiles, and we both soften our postures.

  “I understand why you want to tell our parents right away, I do. But what's one more day?”

  He tugs on my hand. “I feel like we're being sneaky. Like, we're lying to them. And if your dad finds out before we tell him, he’s going to get the wrong idea about us and may not even let us see each other.”

  I’m not trying to be difficult. “But once he finds out, he's going to be different with you. He's not going to see you as my best friend anymore. He's going to see you as a boy who wants to date his daughter.” He doesn't say anything. “You know I'm right. He may not let us go out by ourselves anymore.”

  “He said I was like a son to him.”

  I raise my eyebrows. “Siblings don't date.”

  He smiles down at me. “Mm. That's true. I'd rather not be their son.”

  “The point is—I don't know how Dad is going to react. I just think it would be better to wait until at least Sunday to tell them. Then, if he goes off, you can just walk out the door and drive off to school.”

  “Regan.” He stops and turns toward me. His eyes dart, scouring every inch of my face. No words are spoken when he releases my fingers to gently move the strands of hair stuck to my skin and then pull my hair over my shoulder. “I—” His smile is soft and shy. His eyes focus on his fingers combing through my hair. “You have no idea how happy it made me when you said you missed me.” His smile falls. “Happy and disappointed at the same time.” I narrow my brow trying to figure out why. “I wish we would've figured this out earlier.”

  I lean in and wrap my free arm around him. “Me, too. Maybe we can store up some time together today and tomorrow without our parents getting uptight and looking over our shoulders.”

  He leans back and gives me a half-smile. “I see your point, about not telling them, for the short term. But your dad will be really ticked if he finds out first.” He turns with his arm around me and tugs to keep moving. “What do you want to do tomorrow? We need to call Tobi sometime.”

  “I don't know. You should see her tomorrow or Sunday before you leave.”

  “Yeah.” He sighs.

  We pass through the tree line to our usual fishing spot, getting our rods and reels ready to cast. We're just using bobbers with worms for bait, not really caring if we catch anything or not. We cast our reels, and sit on the bank next to each other watching the plugs bob in the ripples of the creek.

  “Sunday wouldn't be a good day to see Tobi. There's too much to do. I guess that leaves tomorrow, and I know my parents expect to see me, too.” He puts down his rod and lies back with his legs long, crossed at the ankles, and hands behind his head as he stares up at the sky.

  “Since I asked for tomorrow off, I'm open all day. I'll squeeze into your schedule wherever I can.”

  He sits up with a burst of energy. “You did?” His eyes sparkle bright and wide.

  I feel the energy between us and I lean closer. “Of course. I wouldn't miss my best friend's last weekend at home before he runs off to conquer the world.”

  He leans into me, one hand on my shoulder, gently angling me toward him. “Thank you.”

  I let out a soft sigh. “You’re welcome.” Butterflies flit in my stomach, anticipating what's to come.

  “Yes!” His hand slips off my arm. I thought he was going to kiss me. “Come over for breakfast in the morning. We'll spend the day together with my family and do something with Tobi in the evening.” He pulls the phone out of his pocket. “Let's call her.” I watch him swipe and touch the screen. “No, it's Lane.” He listens to her talk. “She's beside me, fishing.” He nods toward the water with brows raised. “Correction, she's hooking and reeling in a fish.” I give a slight jerk on my line and start to reel in. Lane continues to talk, but I'm too busy to pay attention.

  Standing on the edge of the bank with the line nearly reeled in, I can see what I've hooked. “Catfish,” I mumble with disgust. Catfish is my least favorite fish to eat. He's a nice size, but I don't keep them unless Lane wants to take it home. “I need the pliers.” I look back over my shoulder at Lane. He's wandered upstream a little way but starts back to the tackle box for me.

  “Okay. I will. Bye.” Lane hangs up. “Tobi wants to go horseback riding tomorrow at five o'clock, so dress for the occasion. And bring your white sandals.”

  I draw my brows tight. “White sandals?”

  He shrugs. “That's what she said.”

  I leave after breakfast. Though I really want to be with Lane all day, it's better if he spends time with his family without me—especially if they're already suspicious. But this short separation is making the thought of our reunion later today more exciting. We're just hanging out at Tobi's, but the anticipation of the night ending sooner than I’d like and the weight of knowing he's leaving tomorrow has every nerve tingling.

  I'm ready and waiting on the patio when I hear the crackling of rock under the tires and the soft rumble of his truck engine. I jump up and hustle to the door as Lane parks. I open the door and lean inside the house. “Lane's here, I'm going to Tobi's.”

  Dad steps out of the bathroom and down the hall, his face half shaven. “Be home—”

  “I know, be home before midnight.” I've heard the same line a hundred times.

  “Have fun.”

  I shut the door and jog to the truck with my bag in tow. I don't want to waste any more time.

  Lane steps out of his truck. When he sees me, his face lights up with an easy smile. “Hey.”

  Even if I weren't looking forward to being with him, I couldn't help but smile back. No one can refuse his smile. “Hey.”

  He watches me get in and then slides into the driver's seat. “Ready?”

  I check him out and nod. “Let's go.”

  We pull out of the drive. “Did you know our parents are going out to dinner tonight?”

  “Yeah, my parents never go out.” My mind is focused on Lane and tonight being our last night before he leaves.

  “They even got a babysitter for the girls.”

  “Hm.”

  I want to scoot over and hug his arm, but it seems like everyone and their dog is out driving around today. It's not worth the price of gossip, yet. My hair's in a ponytail sticking out of the opening of the Cowgirl Up ball cap Tobi gave me a while back. Lane has his EIU cap on. We ride with the windows down and the radio up. Lane throws glances at me from behind his sunglasses on our drive, some longer than others, b
ut he doesn't really say much. It's kind of hard to have a conversation with wind noise and the radio blasting. I notice when he looks over at me though because I can't seem to keep my eyes off him. He still hasn't cut his hair. There's something about it that makes him look more carefree, a little rebellious. Cheap aviators, tan smooth skin, thin cotton pearl-snap shirt he's cut the sleeves off, not bulky but muscular arms, faded jeans, cowboy boots—he has that whole magnetism thing going on right now. The drive seems like it takes fifteen seconds not fifteen minutes.

  Tobi waves us over to the horse barn. We park and get out as she meets us. “Good, you didn't forget your boots.”

  “You look rugged and ready.” I tease, but she looks so pretty with her long blonde hair down under her cowboy hat. She's sporting a pair of Wranglers and a turquoise T-shirt.

  We walk through the barn, and I can see she has the horses saddled under the shade tree on the other side.

  “I packed some water bottles in the saddlebags.” She leads the way through the barn. I see the back end of a fourth horse. A big, beautiful buckskin is saddled, too. My eyes follow the lines of the buckskin to the being that has a hold of the reins.

  “Regan, Lane, this is Rex.”

  She stands between us and the horse. “Rex, these are my best friends, Lane and Regan.”

  I glance up at Lane, and he has a disciplined grin on his face. He steps over to shake his hand. “Hey, Rex. Good to meet you.”

  I look over at Tobi and she's chewing on her bottom lip, sporting an innocent expression, slightly shrugging her shoulders. Daggers are coming out of my eyes. Okay, maybe not daggers, icicles—yeah, icicles are shooting out of my eyes, targeting right between hers. I ask her telepathically, Rex? Who is Rex? Where did Rex come from? Why didn't you tell me about Rex?

  “Regan.” Lane bumps my shoulder.

  “Oh, uh, Rex.” I hold my hand up in a wave. “Hi. How do you know Tobi?” Lane tilts his head looking over his eyelashes at me, warning me to be nice.

  Rex’s rubbing the nose of his horse, while he gazes at Tobi. “We met at the State Fair.”