Page 124 of Keepsake
“I love these!” she said when she opened my gift. “You shouldn’t have.”
I shrugged. “This brand always makes me think of you. It was our college splurge.”
“Haven’t had much reason to wear makeup in a while,” May said, dabbing the perfect little brush into one of the glosses and pursing her lips in the pocket-sized mirror.
“Me neither. But once in a while it’s fun. And I have a question.”
“Mmm?” she asked, rubbing her lips together.
“When two women make out, is it a problem if your lipstick clashes? What if one of you is wearing a cool shade of pinkish purple, and the other has an orangey red? Like, omigod. That’s a fashion no-no.”
“You crack yourself up,” May said, tucking the brush back into the compact and closing the lid. “That was the most blatant fishing expedition for details that I’ve ever heard.”
“Fine. I’ll just ask outright. Has there been any nakedness yet? And was it awesome?”
May shook her head. “She just asked me out last week for the first time. Took me completely by surprise.”
“A secret admirer! What’s her name?”
“Daniella.” She grinned. “Yeah, it was a nice ego boost. But of course I didn’t realize she was into girls. So we had this stumbling conversation where I had to ask a few clarifying questions about whether this was a date or a hangout. That part is just easier with men.”
“No kidding. If a guy asks you to go anywhere with him, you can just assume he wants sex.”
“Right?”
“Hey, Lark?” Zach’s head popped into the TV room where we were sitting. “Can you come outside with me?”
May and I promptly burst out laughing.
“What did I say?” Zach asked.
“Nothing!” I protested. “We were just talking about things men want.”
He came in and sat down on the sofa next to me. “I just want to show you my truck.”
“Aw,” May said, reaching across me to pat his knee. “Don’t ever change, Zach. You’re the best kind of guy.” She stood up. “I’m going to peek at my hair one more time and then go. You two kids be good.”
“Do me a favor?” I asked May. “Don’t be good tonight. Be naughty.”
“We’ll see,” May said coyly. “Don’t leave tomorrow until I get a chance to say goodbye.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
After she left, Zach waited at least a whole minute before he asked me to come outside and see his truck. “I’ve never bought anything expensive before. It caused me almost physical pain to write that check.”
“Sure. Let’s go outside.”
On the way to the tractor shed where he’d parked it, I stopped at my car and grabbed the box from inside.
“What’s that?” Zach asked.
“Your present.”
“Aren’t you wearing my present?”
“You’ll have to verify that later. But this is something that’s really for you.”
He patted his coat pocket. “Okay. I have yours right here, too. But first…”
