Page 29 of Say Something
“I’m so sorry I was late,” Danny said, taking a seat in the booth beside me. He always did that, sat beside me instead of across from me. He said he wanted to be as close to me as he could. It was sweet.
“It’s fine,” I lied. I was pretty annoyed at him. It was our six-month anniversary, and we’d agreed to meet at The Diner at six o’clock. Didn’t he understand how embarrassing it was to be a girl, all dressed up for a date, without her actual date? A few groups of kids from our high school had passed through The Diner, and they’d all seen me sitting alone. Some laughed, and I was certain it was at me.
I tried so hard not to cry. I always cried when I was angry, but I wouldn't do it now. Not over a boy.
He reached across my lap and placed his hand over mine. My skin felt hot under his. I swear there was even a sizzle.
“I really am sorry, Jess.” He sounded so genuine… “Look at me, please?”
My eyes lifted from our hands to his pretty brown eyes. It was weird describing a boy’s eyes as “pretty,” but they sure were.
“I was on my way here when I saw Mr. and Mrs. Roberts walking down Main Street holding bags of groceries. Turns out their car wouldn’t start in the parking lot and the auto shop was closed so they couldn’t get it looked at or a tow. I gave them a lift home. I couldn’t let them walk all the way home.”
Mr. and Mrs. Roberts were probably the oldest people in town. They must have been in their eighties. They didn’t live far from the center of town, but for two senior citizens, I didn’t think the distance truly mattered. A block was too far for them to have to walk in the summertime, not to mention while carrying grocery bags.
“You did a good thing,” I told Danny, forgiving him immediately and falling in love with him just a little bit more. He had such a genuinely good soul.
“It was nothing,” he said, blowing off what he’d done. He always downplayed his good deeds.
“I love you, Daniel Andrew Thompson,” I told him for the first time.
Those pretty brown eyes lit up like firecrackers on the Fourth of July. “I love you, Jessica Lynn Price,” he said.
As his lips brushed against mine, I melted. I melted right into a puddle on that red vinyl seat.
I loved Danny, and he loved me. My life couldn’t possibly be any better than it was in that moment.
