Page 19 of Summer After Summer

“I don’t have to,” she says, responding to my invite.

“I want you to.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“It’s true. But come. You can … meet him.”

Her eyes light up. “Fred? You talked to him?”

I nod because talking seems like too small a word to describe it.

He gets me and I get him, and the way we get each other seems impossible and inevitable. At night, when I think over our conversations, I tell myself that it feels this way because it’s the first time, the first boy. But I know that’s not true. There hasn’t ever been another person like this in my life, and my heart feels so full I’m worried about what might burst out of me.

Love, I think. This is love.

“Have you kissed him yet?” Ashley opens the gate and links her arm through mine.

“No.”

“So, you’re what? Hanging out? Friends?”

“We haven’t talked about it.”

“Oh, girlfriend, no.”

“What?”

She wags a finger at me. “You have to talk about it.”

We turn right on the beach, the wind whipping our hair around. “Why?”

“You don’t want to be put in the friend zone.”

“I thought that’s what girls did to guys?”

Ashley purses her lips. “Nah, it can work both ways.”

“I don’t think that’s what’s happening.”

“Which is exactly my point. Has he asked you out?”

There had been some talk, yesterday, of us maybe grabbing a bite after his shift ended, but I had piano, and if my father heard that I’d skipped my lesson, it would lead to all kinds of questions. “Not in so many words.”

“It’s a good thing I found you out.”

“Ash …”

“Don’t worry. I’m just going to help things along. I’m the reason you met, right? You’re happy I did that?”

“Yes, but—”

“Leave it to me. Besides, your birthday’s tomorrow. Don’t forget the mission.”

“I remember.”

“Good.”

We get to Cooper’s Beach, and I let Ash take the lead. She barrels past the umbrellas and beachgoers and walks right up to Fred with a confidence I wish I had outside the tennis court.

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