Page 19 of How We Loved

“It was good. We all hung out at Ben’s house.”

“Who’s we all?”

“I was hanging with the guys, Natalie, Susie, Marcus, and Ashley. How was your day?”

“I had to help my dad work on the truck. The brakes needed replacing.”

“Fun!”

He lets out a harsh laugh. “Hardly. We ran into problems left and right. The old beast just keeps having more and more issues.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Why don’t you get a new one?”

“Um, we don’t have the money like you do, remember?”

I instantly feel stupid. Of course they don’t.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“It’s all good. Just stating a fact of life here in Springstown.”

I sit in silence, not sure what to say, and am thankful when he changes the conversation. “So, now that football is over, do you still have cheer practice after school? Do you guys do competitions or stuff like that outside of the school?”

“Nah. No competitions. Just cheering for school sports. We have a month off before we start practices again for basketball season.”

“Great. How about I come pick you up after school so we can hang out?”

“I’d love that!” I say way too enthusiastically and instantly regret it. Yes, I’m naturally a bubbly person, but no one should be that over the top.

I hear him trying to hide his laugh. “Glad to hear you’re excited to see me.”

I bury my face in my hand, too embarrassed to say anything.

“I like it. I like you.”

My head pops up, and I’m so thankful he didn’t FaceTime me to see my reaction.

“Is that okay with you?” he asks when I stay silent for too long.

“Yeah. I like you too,” I admit, dancing around my room like a crazy girl, hoping he can’t hear me do so.

“Then, tomorrow it is. Where should I pick you up? At school or your house?”

“I’ll text you my address so you can pick me up here.”

“Sounds like a plan. See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.”

“Bye,” he says breathlessly, and I instantly swoon at the sound.

I’ve wanted a guy who doesn’t play games, who isn’t afraid to say what he feels or go out of his way to show me how he’s liked me for so long, and now that he’s here, I can’t believe it’s true. My senior year is looking up for sure!

I open Ben’s door to his Ford Raptor that was a present for his seventeenth birthday.

“Good morning!” I singsong. He looks tired as hell, so I lean over to his side and shake him a little. “Wake up!”

He laughs at my attack. “I’m awake. I just don’t want to be.”

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