Page 42 of The Pass
“Yo, Syd!” Datson leans his chair and cranes his neck so I can see him and waves.
“Hey! Good to see you.”
“You too.”
“How was shopping?” Tanner’s hair is still wet and curls at the nape of his neck. He’s in jeans and a black T-shirt that stretches across his chest and arms.
“Good. Sorry I’m so late.” Six hours apart and there’s a clumsiness between us as if neither of us knows how to act.
“It’s fine. We’re just chilling. We ordered food. I got you a couple of things in case you didn’t eat.”
“If I eat, can we consider that one date down?”
Finally, the tension breaks, and he shakes his head slowly as he closes the space between us. “No chance.”
“Should I get us a ride?” Datson joins us, beer in hand. He glances between us. Tanner doesn’t move or answer.
“I just need to change. I can be ready in five,” I say.
“Coolio.” Datson moves to the kitchen and picks up the bottle of Jager. “We’ve got time for a shot.”
* * *
Jonah’s houselooks even more amazing at night. Big windows inside lead to a view of the lake. Outside, twinkle lights hang everywhere, illuminating the patio and pool.
Datson is quick to blend into the horde of people outside, but Tanner and I hang near the back-patio doors.
“You look incredible.” His hand makes small circles where it rests at the middle of my back.
“Thanks. You told me once you had a thing for girls in white dresses.”
“I can’t believe you remember that. I don’t even remember saying it. Totally true though.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you have very boring taste?” I ask him. My preference for bright colors aside, Tanner’s wardrobe is primarily made up of shades of gray, white, and black.
“Only you.” He leans in. “You light up my world.”
“Oh my god, you did not just say that.” My insides go squishy no matter how cheesy it sounded.
“Totally did. Not taking it back either.”
“I need to find the booze in this place because I’m entirely too sober for you right now.”
His laughter is easy and light. “I got you. Come on.”
There’s a keg set up outside and Tanner informs me there’s a stash of liquor inside that we apparently walked by while I was too busy scoping out the house. He pours foamy beer into cups for each of us.
“Shaw! Shaw!” The feminine voice invades our bubble and I turn to see a tall, blonde girl in denim cut-offs and a white bikini top jogging toward us. Her cheeks are flushed and her large, blue eyes wide with excitement when she reaches us. “Hey, you made it.” Her friendly smile pulls higher when her gaze slides to me. “Hey there!”
“Willow, this is Sydney.” Tanner inches closer to me. “Willow goes to college with Jonah.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say.
“Same.” She grabs a hold of Tanner’s wrist. “We need you for badminton.”
“Badminton?” I ask quietly as she pulls him behind her. I follow them to the opposite side of the yard where, sure enough, a badminton game is going on.
Willow jogs off to one side and picks up a racket on the ground. “We’ve got Shaw.”
