Just for the Summer(56)

“It sucked,” Sarah said.

“No, it didn’t,” Alex said. “It was awesome!”

Sarah gave him a look. “Maybe for you. Hanging out with my brother isn’t my idea of a good time. I’ll be outside. I want to go.”

She left the store, and Alex threw his hands up in exasperation and went out after her.

I glanced at Emma and sighed.

“She’s right, you know,” Emma said, sitting up on her elbows too. “You should let her bring a friend next time.”

“Alex didn’t need a friend.”

“Alex is going to have fun no matter what and no matter who he’s with.”

I bobbed my head. “Okay. True.”

She nudged my knee with hers. “You don’t remember what it was like to be that age? It doesn’t matter how cool the thing is, if they don’t have a friend they won’t have fun. Trust me. It will save you a ton of grief, it’s a teenager hack.”

I guess she had a point. I mean, it wasn’t much different for me when I thought about it. I didn’t want to be at the mall—it had lost its novelty for me about fifteen years ago. I was only here for the kids. But with Emma here, I couldn’t think of any place I’d rather be. Even earlier when Maddy was in Sephora and Emma and I sat on the bench outside just talking, Chelsea knocked out in her stroller, it was fun.

It’s funny how when you find someone you like as much as I liked her, the destination is suddenly wherever they are. Even if there’s someplace better, you wouldn’t go if they couldn’t come.

I puffed air from my cheeks. “Maybe I should see if Josie can get dropped off at the water park tomorrow.”

“You should.”

I arched an eyebrow. “I don’t suppose you want to go to the water park tomorrow. I’ll buy your ticket. Maddy’s too,” I added quickly.

But she shook her head. “No. I promised Neil I’d put in some hostas.”

I nodded. “Right. Okay.” I tried to keep the disappointment out of my voice. “And where are you putting the rosebush?”

She tilted her head. “I don’t know. I have to find a good spot.”

“Let me know if you need help planting it.”

“I’ve got Maddy.”

“So you’re saying she’s good at digging holes…”

“I’m telling her you said that.”

“Please don’t, I’m scared of her.”

She laughed.

I peered out into the mall at my brother and sister loitering by the railing, Sarah looking annoyed and Alex texting, laughing at something on his phone.

“If you didn’t come today, it probably would have crushed what was left of my fragile spirit,” I said, only half kidding.

“Oh yeah? The stakes were that high?”

I looked over at her. “What would you say if I told you you should stay another few weeks? Sign another contract.”

She looked up to the side like she was thinking about it before coming back to me. “I would say that it’s probably not doable. It’s Maddy’s turn to pick,” she said. “I had to promise her she could pick twice just to get her to agree to come here.”

“What if you begged?”

She laughed like I was joking, but really I wasn’t.

She propped her head on her hand. “I think I know what you need,” she said.

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.” Then she leaned over and kissed my forehead.

I closed my eyes for the three seconds her lips were pressed to my skin. My heart was in my throat.

She pulled away slowly. “Better?” she whispered. “I hear forehead kisses are all the rage.”

“Ha.” I tickled her. She squealed and twisted away from me just as an employee approached us. “Hey, sorry guys, we’re closing up.”

I looked at my watch. Nine p.m. The whole mall was shutting down.

“We should probably go home anyway,” Emma said, sliding off the bean bag.

“Yeah,” I said, getting off too.

We walked out of the store as they lowered the gate behind us. Maddy was coming back from the bathrooms with Chelsea, a couple of stores down.

“How long are you staying at the water park?” Emma asked.

“Probably a few more days. Until Benny and Brad are done with the house. Can I walk you out to your car?” I asked, trying to buy a few more minutes with her.

She shook her head. “No, no. You have the kids. I’ll just say goodbye to you here.”

“Oh. Okay.”

She leaned over and gave me a hug. I breathed her in, tried to hold it in my lungs. I wouldn’t see her until our next date. Another five days at least and too long.

She let me go, and I held Chelsea while I watched Emma leave out the door by Nordstrom without looking back.

Emma had an aloofness to her. Like she was just along for the ride and the ride didn’t mean much.

At least not as much as it meant to me.

CHAPTER 24

EMMA

The interrogation started the second we got in the car. “Oh my God, that guy’s fucking in love with you,” Maddy said, turning on the engine. “It’s cute. Honestly, I’m not usually about all that puppy dog stuff, but I liked it.”