Page 114 of Crystal Iris
“It’s what this is called.” He pats the part we’re sitting on.
“Oh, I didn’t even know that. Now I’m certain this is what a country date looks like.”
He laughs.
“I bet you take a lot of girls on these kinds of dates.”I’m done trying to be strong.
“Nobody compares to you.”
I look at him. “Thanks for inviting me over, to Montana. This sky is something else,” I say, taking another glance up.
“We should head back,” he says, getting out of the truck bed. I have no choice but to follow him.
“What happened? Why did you want to leave?” I ask when we get back to the house.
“I was about to break the promise I made to you. I told you I’d give you space, respect your wish to take things slow. That was me doing that, before…”
I can’t help but feel mad at myself for putting us in this agonizing situation. I want to say,To hell with slow!But I steady myself and tell him while walking to my room, “Thank you, I had fun tonight.”
“Me too.”
Twenty-Five
“Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.” – Andy Warhol
I’m waiting for Akira at the airport when I spot her hair. Her new hair. Blue. Only the bottom ends, but still, it’s really blue.
“Tell me you didn’t drive.” She’s searching for Hoyt.
I jiggle the keys in my hand. She tries to take them.
“Hoyt let you drive his truck?”
“Yep.”
“He doesn’t know, does he?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I recognize her luggage and pull it from the belt.
“Do you have a death wish?” she asks, helping me with the bag.
“I can drive,” I tell her as she follows me to the truck.
“Having a driver’s license doesn’t mean you can drive.”
“Actually, that’s exactly what it means.”
“When was the last time you drove?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“I’m driving.” She moves to the left side of the truck.
“I made it here, didn’t I?”
“I won’t push our luck.”
