Page 29 of The Perils of Pretending
Sadie flicks her hand. “Oh, you’re right. What am I thinking?” She says sarcastically. “Everyone loves getting a whiff of poo when they’re making out. Totally adds to the ambiance.”
The ridiculously funny thing is, at school the kids hang out by the bathroom kissing all the time. It really is disgusting. I laugh while visualizing it. “Thanks for a good laugh before I leave. Talk later?”
“Yeah. I’ll keep you updated.”
I squeeze Sadie’s shoulder. “See ya.”
Sadie smiles at me. “Let me know how your grandparents like me.”
I laugh. “I will.”
“Bye, Max.”
I don’t want to leave, but if I don’t go right now, I never will. “Bye, Sadie.”
Walking away is harder than I expect. Which is insane. Sadie isn’t mine, and she never will be.
Chapter 12
Sadie
Imisssittingnextto Max. The person next to me doesn’t stink or anything, but Max made the time go by faster. And now I’m on my own to deal with Grandma and the aunties.
I fiddle with the gemstones on my wrist. I’m not sure if I need to rub them like a genie lamp or if simply wearing them is enough, but I don’t want to take any chances of them not working, so I keep rubbing my thumb over the smooth beads.
After we land, we gather our luggage and Brody and I load up in the third row of the black Escalade Grandma ordered to pick us up. She never mentioned why she came to Seattle to begin with. If we ask, she probably won’t tell us anyway. I pretend the entire time I’m too morose to carry on a conversation because I miss Max, but really, it’s because I don’t have the energy to verbally spar with Grandma anymore today.
I stare out the window, admiring the sun shining over the massive mountains, pine trees, bay, and the colorful fishing houses on stilts as we drive to the property we’re staying at. Homer’s a cute town. This isn’t where Dad grew up, but his stories about life in Fairbanks make me feel closer to him just by being in the same state. I can almost smell the Old Spice he always wore and hear his booming laugh.
Tears prick my eyes.
I pull my bucket list out of my backpack, smoothing it out on my leg. I read over the list again. I memorized it so it’s not like I need tokeep looking at it, but seeing Dad’s writing, knowing he held this paper himself, comforts me.
I wish he was here. Shaking my head, I put the list away. I can’t get stuck in grief over Dad while we’re here, otherwise I won’t enjoy any of the activities on my list. I love you, Dad.Tucking my feelings inside, I turn to Brody next to me. “What are you looking forward to the most in the next ten days?”
“I can’t decide between kayaking, bear watching, or the Argo tour.”
I’m glad Brody and Mom are helping me check off my list. Since Dad isn’t here, it’s nice to have my other family members around. Too bad Poppy couldn’t come as well. “I’m not too excited about the bears.” What if they charge at us?
“What are you afraid of?”
Is he serious? “That we’ll die. In an extremely painful way.”
Brody slaps my knee. “The guides know what they’re doing, Dee. They have spray and guns. If we stay way back from the bears, we’ll be safe.”
His reassurance doesn’t stop my heart from pounding against my ribs, thinking about coming face to face with a grizzly. “Are you shipping any salmon home?”
“Oh yeah. If you want any, you can put your fish in with mine.”
“I have to catch some first,” I say. “Remember the last time dad took me to Strawberry Reservoir and he caught twelve fish and I left with none? I don’t think I inherited Dad’s knack for fishing.”
“You were like ten or eleven.”
“And?”
Brody laughs. “Were you doing it right?”
I smack his arm. “I did everything Dad told me to!”
