Page 90 of The Perils of Pretending
1.Fishing
2. Kayaking
3. Hiking
4. Berry picking
5. Helicopter tour
6. Bear viewing
7. Dog sledding
8. Stay out all night looking at the stars/witness Alaska’s midnight sun
9. Side-by-side tour
10. Pig out at an all-you-can-eat buffet
11. Whale watching
12. Bonfire on the beach
13. Hot springs
14. Spend an entire day on the beach reading and snacking
15. Cold plunge
16. Have “the” talk
Looking once again at that last item, I suddenly feel the same sparkle of magic that Captain Big Rack brought to my trip. Those midnight talks on the porch with Max, especially when I opened up about my fears, are exactly the kind of talk I need to feel inspired to have because of my dad. Come to think of it, having the courage to stand up to Grandma had tohave come from the same magic. Perhaps Dad would have told me that the magic is always inside me. Dad and I won’t ever have “the” talk, but because of Dad, I won’t ever fearto talkwhen I need to speak my mind.
I cross item 16 off my list, fold the paper along its deep and permanent crease, and slip it into my backpack, my heart glowing like the midnight sunset. One day, I’ll get the rest done. Until then, I have Max to help me through anything that comes my way.
16. Have “the” talk
Chapter 33
Max
Ifoldanothershirt,adding it to the pile in my suitcase. It’s been only about twenty minutes since Sadie and I walked into the cabin so I could call my grandparents, and I can’t stop smiling.
I whistle—not something I’m prone to do—as I pack, relieved Sadie wants to date for real. I’m not completely sure what it will look like since we’ve already kissed and spent so much time together. Should we stay on the same fast track? Slow things down? There’s no way I can go from kissing and holding her hand to first-date boundaries. We’ll have plenty of time on the drive to my grandparents’ house to figure things out.
“You said you liked her as a little sister.” Brody storms into our bedroom in the cub cabin, eyes blazing, fists clenched at his side. “Did you lie to me?”
My muscles tense up, prepared for Brody to punch me.
Relax.I can do this. I can explain to my best friend that when we spoke, what I said was true, but since then, my feelings have changed. “I didn’t lie. The day I came up with the plan to fake date Sadie and then when we spoke again on the beach, I really did see Sadie as only a friend.”
“Obviously things have changed. When? How?”
I can’t pinpoint an exact moment. “The more time I spent with her, protecting her, getting to know her, I fell for her.” If we had taken a different trip years ago, would either of us have been ready for each other? Could we have been a couple for years? Or was time and maturity on our side?
Brody groans. “Dude.”
I put my hands up. “I didn’t intend to. But she’s everything I’m looking for. She makes me laugh, she challenges me, she doesn’t—but does—put up with my crap. I don’t know how I haven’t seen it before now, but I really like her. I have no intentions of hurting her, so you don’t need to worry about that.”
