Page 36 of The Other Side of Together

“I would’ve gotten cozy with him.” I tilt my head toward a guy with his life-sized teddy bear and lay on my stomach beside Marcus, our shoulders smashed together.

“Guess it would’ve been me and the licorice, then.” He rummages for another piece, our faces so close, I can count the freckles on the bridge of his nose. Four.

Marcus sticks a piece of licorice between his teeth and holds it toward me like a bridge between our lips. I glance at it, then meet his eyes, back to the licorice, then to his eyes again before leaning closer to him, biting the piece in half.

He sucks in the remaining piece, chews, and wiggles his eyebrows. “That was a close one,” he whispers, then breaks off a tiny piece and sticks it between his lips again. If I take a bite, our lips will touch, but he laughs and shakes his head as he chews.

“Kidding. I want you to kiss me whenever you’re ready.Just like, anytime. Now’s fine. Or whenever.” He gives me a sidelong glance, then laughs. “Okay, seriously though. Only kidding. Really. No pressure at all—it’ll happen when it happens. And it will. I’m just happy to be here, laying on a tall person blanket in Dolores Park when my dad thinks I’m playing video games at Johnny’s. And Johnny thinks I’m with my aunt. And my aunt thinks I’m at soccer practice. Very delicate balance to be with you, but I’d say…304 percent worth it.”

The movie starts, and I drop Oreos into our bowls, then drown them in milk. Marcus sets his phone timer for 4 ½ minutes and we wait before digging in, laying on our stomachs and watching Sabrina in all her awkwardness. By the time she gets to Paris, Marcus has had two bowls of Oreos and is lying on his back, head propped up on my bag, Red Vines in hand. I’m lying on my side, my head on his chest, arm draped over him.

His fingertips ripple up and down my spine and when he laughs at something on the screen, my head bounces, but I’m paying more attention to his heart beating beneath my ear: solid, steady, eager. I listen to it until Sabrina gets her hair cut and lift my head, resting my chin on my hand that’s spread on his stomach. “What do you think about girls with short hair?”

“Ah, loaded question,” he says to the sky before looking at me. “My dad’s warned me about these.” He smooths his hand over my hair and down the side of my face. “I think…it’s just hair. Some girls, like this Asian girl watching an old-school movie right now, would look good with short hair, long hair, no hair. A bald Mei would still be a hot Mei.”

I roll my eyes and pinch his stomach until he laughs.

When the credits roll, I sit up and look down at him. “Well? What did you think?”

He puts his hands under his head, his eyes glossy in the lamppost light. “That was my first black and white movieand…I liked it. Especially the part where she’s in culinary school. Just glad you’re not going to Paris. But if you were, I’d find a way to make it work.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Make what work…?” I smile and lean closer.

“Well…I’ve heard rumors that there’s an incredibly funny, brave…interesting…hot, talented…hot…girl with hair who’s going to culinary school and will eventually be my girlfriend, so if the rumors are true, I’m gonna have to find ways to see her. A lot.”

I curl my toes and flex my fingers that want to fly over my heart to keep it from flipping out of my chest. “Does this girl know how you feel?”

His eyes shoot blue light straight through me. “I think she’s starting to figure it out.”

I smile and pull him to his feet before we shove my blanket and the leftover food inside my bag. We toss our bowls in the garbage on the way out of the park and head toward Chinatown until Marcus tugs on my hand and stops.

“It’s only 11:30. Way too early for us to go home, especially since I was hoping to stay out late and fall asleep during history tomorrow.” Marcus takes my bag, throws it over his head and shoulder, then grabs my hand again and veers us out of the crowd in the opposite direction of Chinatown. “I know my dad’s asleep on the couch because he hasn’t responded to my text, so I’ve got time. Whaddya say to a midnight stroll through the Mission? Dodge a few piles of poo and some syringes? Super safe. My dad wouldn’t hate this idea at all.” He wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me into his side.

I think about the streets I walk to Nick’s house and wonder what Marcus’s dad would say about me walking them alone at night. Baba doesn’t care when it’s an errand for him. But after last time, I’m more afraid of Nick than I am of whatever or whoever is in the dark alleys.

Marcus slows in front of a shop window display, turning us to face it. He points at the mannequins. “Which outfit would you choose? Just curious. Think I know, but I wanna see if I’m right.”

I smile and scan the summer dresses in all shades of blue, orange, and yellow. “Probably…that one.” I point at the flowy, short blue V-neck dress with long, loose sleeves.

Marcus looks at it, then me. “I was right. And you’d look way better in it than she does. When you take your yacht to the bi-annual kitty kite festival that was scheduled for a Mediterranean island but got relocated to Nova Scotia. You might be cold, but you’ll look fabulous.”

I laugh so hard my face aches while I wonder how I can make nights like this last forever.

CHAPTER 14

Dear Marcus,

Nova Scotia is just lovely by yacht. Yes, it’s quite chilly but I look stunning in my blue dress, just as you predicted. My kitty kite won second place which was rather disappointing, but the tail did get ripped off by a rogue wind current so it’s to be expected. If only my best kite mender hadn’t missed the boat, but I received your telegram and will demand the captain turn this ship around at once. I’m positively dying to see you in the green and orange plaid suit I picked out for you. It’s so fetching. All the elderly women onboard will positively swoon when they see you. Yes, you’ll have to play a lot of Bingo but you’ll get lots of birthday money for years to come and since kite menders don’t make a lot, it will be very worthwhile.

All my sea-faring best,

Mei, Second place winner in the International Kitty Kite Festival

“So…” Audrey sits back in her chair, arms crossed. “How’s it going? Been on a date yet?”

I mimic her, slouching with my arms crossed “Have you?”

She shoots forward in her seat. “Oh, don’t worry—I’ve gotthe baklava coming. I had a lovely lunch date this week. Just wondering if we’re going to share the baklava or if I get it all to myself.”

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