Page 58 of Songs of Summer

“We did make it to see the lunar eclipse—remember that?” Matt asked, after calming down.

“That was awesome,” Dylan replied, both of them now lying flat on their backs, staring at the moon.

The somberness of the situation sank back in.

“Do you think we should stay, or go back to the house?” Matt asked.

“I think we should stay here at ground zero. You know my dad is very into respecting orders.”

He remembered how Dylan had to say, “May I be excused?” before leaving the dinner table as a kid.

“I hate lying here thinking the worst,” Matt said sadly.

“I’ll distract you. So, Maggie’s nice,” she said. “Are you two serious?”

“I just met her at the Salty Pelican two nights ago.”

He let out an audible sigh of relief. Matt had never been much of a liar.

“Shut up! OMG! You two have such chemistry, I was jealous!”

“There’s nothing to be jealous about. Also, she’s engaged!”

“Engaged?”

“Yes, to her childhood best friend, in Ohio. Could have been us,” he laughed.

“No offense, but I’m glad it worked out this way,” she said, rolling on her side to face him.

“Remember,” she added, “before we dreamt about getting in each other’s pants, we dreamt about being brother and sister.”

She reminded him about the time the two of them, aged seven or eight, went running around the ball field in early spring, blowing on wishing weeds and shouting to the heavens,“We wish we were brother and sister!” Dylan laughed at the memory.

“On Saturday we will be,” Matt said.

“I know, I’m so glad we’re on the same page. I was worried we wouldn’t be. That’s kind of why I brought Steve.” She buried her face in her hands. When she removed them, her cheeks were bright red.

“Are you telling me that Steve is a fake boyfriend too?”

“Not exactly. We have been dating on and off for a few months. But I only brought him to the wedding as a buffer.”

“Oh my God, we should really talk more,” Matt laughed.

“We should.” She reached out her pinky and he looped his around hers as they had dozens of times before. The moment felt deep, until Dylan broke the mood.

“I really need to pee.”

“Run back to the house.”

“ ’Kay, I’ll be right back.”

Sometime during her absence, he fell asleep.

Track 27

Riptide

Maggie

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