But I was being silly, none of that changed anything between us. We were still friends. He would go on to screw other girls and drive his daddy’s expensive cars and I would spend time with him when all of these goofballs got together.
But that was just it. Nobody else would be coming along on this trip. It would just be him and me. For an entire day. At least at the concert last summer, there had been a large group of us in the car.
Except the large group had consisted of all couples, so Nate and I were forced to hang out together more times than not. We’d managed to have a great time.
“Yeah, you’re right,” I said quietly.
Then I just went for it. “But the other night, I caught Nate in Zach’s bathroom with a girl.”
“I heard you egging him on, but I didn’t know what it was about,” she said. “You know that’s not any real news flash, right? Were they doing it or something?”
“No,” I said. Damn, wonder what that would have been like to walk in on. “I’d just never seen him in action before. He hides it pretty well.”
“So it could have been way more awkward.”
“Yeah, but instead it was kind of . . . I don’t know. Erotic,” I said, then cringed. Did I really just admit to that? “I’m always ragging on him for being so square, but the way he was . . . oh, just forget it.”
Emmy’s eyes were wide. “No, tell me.”
I shrugged because I wasn’t sure if I could even put my finger on it. “Something about those lips and his strong hands.”
“Yeah?” she said looking past me, as if trying to picture it. “I think Nate’s always had a thing for you.”
“Oh, come on.”
“Sure, you guys are friends and you joke around a lot,” she said and I thought about whether that joking was more like flirting, but I had never really thought so. “I think some guys might be intimidated by you because you’re fierce and superhot.”
“Okay, whatever,” I said. “I think you’re the superhot one.”
Emmy had creamy white skin against that gorgeous red hair and a simple tattoo on her ankle, which had helped her seal the deal for this job.
“Besides, I’m not even Nate’s type,” I said. “And he’s not mine. No tattoos or piercings . . . all of those hard muscles.”
Emmy raised her eyebrows. “Not that you’ve noticed, huh?”
I bit my lip to keep a smile from forming. “He never takes girls seriously, anyway.”
“He takes you seriously, Jessie. But okay, whatever you say,” she said, with a tiny smirk hanging from her lips. “So you should have no trouble asking him to ride with you since you guys are just friends. Get on it already.”
“I will.”
I pulled out my phone and scrolled to Nate’s number.
Want to go on a road trip with me?
I waited what felt like forever for his response. Emmy went to set up Cory’s station for his next appointment.
Him: What do you mean?
Me: Remember the covered bridges?
Him: Yeah . . .
Me: I’ve decided that’s what my photography project’s gonna be. So would you want to drive up there with me and kind of . . . show me around?
Him: When?
Me: Whenever we can make it happen. I’m off this Saturday but you might be busy.
Another long pause while I chipped some of the gunmetal nail polish off my fingers. Crap, maybe this was too uncomfortable for him.
Him: I can go this Saturday.
Me: Coolness! Thanks so much. If we leave early in the morning, we can make it back by nightfall.
That way he wouldn’t feel like I was trying to stay somewhere with him overnight. I didn’t want any more awkwardness between us, though I was pretty sure by now it was only on my end.
Him: Sounds like a plan, Blue.
Me: Give me your address and I’ll pick you up.
Him: You sure? I can drive.
Me: My idea. I’ll drive.
Him: If you insist. I’ll make you a coffee for the road then—what kind do you like?
Me: You have one of those fancy-ass Keurig machines, don’t you?
Him: Maybe.
Me: Figures. I just like regular straight-up coffee, one cream, one sugar—will that work?
Him: Absolutely. I’ll make sure not to fancy up your drink.
I smiled at him despite myself. He always had a way of making me feel lighter inside.
Me: You gonna bring a bungee cord so you can jump off one of those bridges?
Him: Don’t tempt me.
Me: : )
Him: Is that something you’d ever consider doing?
Me: Never say never.
Him: Note to self—bring bungee cord.
Me: I might just have to change your name to DD.
Him: DD?
Me: Daredevil
Him: I approve. You can start using it immediately.