Page 71 of The Apple Tree

Apparently,Kyle was too busy doing his job and raising his son to work for my affection.

After that Saturday, he was nice to me. Nice, like someone would be to their babysitter.

Two weeks.

He wenttwo weekswithout acknowledging he’d seen me nearly naked.

Two Sunday dinners at our house, acting like a cousin.

Two weeks of cordially thanking me for watching Josh during football practice.

Two away football games where I gave up my Friday night to watch Josh and put him to bed on time. And again, Kyle thanked me with a smile and cash.

No greasy food runs.

No kissing.

Not even a wink.

“To be fair, he is busy,” Erin said while we jogged on Saturday morning.

“To be fair? Uh, no. It’s not fair. He’s had plenty of opportunities to be alone with me. Josh goes to bed at eight, and I don’t have to be home until eleven—or twelve on the weekends. Today, he could be taking me hunting with him. Instead, he askedGabbyto watch Josh while he went by himself. How did standing up for myself turn into ending everything?”

“Why don’t you just ask him?”

“Nooo …” I could hear my mom’s voice in my head, telling me to stop whining. “If I ask him, then he wins.”

Erin laughed. “It doesn’t have to be a game.”

“It’s not. But you know what I mean.”

“Maybe you need to show up uninvited and seduce him after Josh is in bed.”

I giggled. “Like, trench coat with no clothes under it? I don’t own a trench coat, do you?”

“No. Why would I own one?” She laughed. “Do something else. Just jump on him and start kissing him.”

My steps faltered from laughing so much. “Throw myself at him? What if he does that head-turn thing like in the movies and rejects me? What if he says, ‘It’s not you; it’s me.’ I would be totally mortified.”

“Then just ask him!”

“Then I sound whiny and desperate.”

“Not if you don’t ask him in a whiny and desperate way. You have to chill. You freak out too easily. Be cool.”

Cool.

I could do that.

Nothing saidcool like stalking him from my bedroom window with binoculars. He arrived close to dinner time and parked histruck by the barn. Josh ran down the porch stairs, and Gabby followed him. I bolted into the bathroom to curl my hair before changing into black jeans that were too tight for my father’s approval, a white T-shirt, a fake leather jacket, and black boots.

“Where are you off to?” Mom asked when I reached the bottom of the stairs. She was tying her apron to make dinner.

“I’m not sure what we’re doing yet.” I smiled.

Erin was going to a movie with Nicole. Sowewas me. And it wasn’t a total lie. I didn’t know my plan. I just knew I’d drive around until after Josh’s bedtime. DQ sounded good. A burger and sundae.

“Have fun.”

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