Page 55 of Sycamore Circle

“I’m working. I have money. I’ve been meaning to ask my aunt and uncle about getting one anyway. Or maybe one of the guys I met.”

“Those ones who were sitting in that booth?”

“Yeah. One of them is former Amish. He might be able to figure out how I could get one.”

“Finn, if you did have a phone, we could text each other.”

He grinned. “We could. And talk on it too.”

“I’d like that,” she said softly.

“Me too. So, what will you do with your dad when he picks you up?”

“We usually go get something to eat. Sometimes he takes me home right after and other times I’ll spend the night at his house—I’ve got a room there and all. I’ll probably spend the night at his place.”

“That’s nice you get to stay at both of your parents’ houses.”

“I guess.” She bit her lip. “I mean, I love my dad and I’m glad for the room and all, but he’s been kind of weird lately.” She paused, wondering how much to add, then figured that she might as well finish what she’d started. “You’re not the only person with a weird dad, Finn. He left my mom for this woman named Sandy, then broke up with her practically the minute he and Mom got divorced.”

“Ouch.”

“Oh, it gets worse. He was going on dates and stuff—at least he said he was until he heard that my mom met a guy.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing, except my father is acting all surprised and kind of jealous. It’s like now that someone else likes Mom, he likes her again too.”

“For real?”

She nodded. “It’s so awful. Now whenever we’re together, Dad always asks me about Mom and Bo.”

“The guy’s name is Bo?”

“Yeah.”

“Have you met him?”

“Not yet. Mom doesn’t want me to meet him in case things don’t get serious. But I think they already are.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah. My life is a soap opera.”

“Sorry about that.”

She shrugged. “It’s nothing too bad, right? Oh, I almost forgot. Would you like my phone number? You know, in case you do get a phone?”

He grinned. “It’s probably gonna be a while before I can text you.”

“I know, but I can hope, right?”

“Write it down and I’ll keep it.” He paused, then added, “I could, um, always call you from the phone shanty down the street. Maybe.”

“That would be great.”

“Yeah? You, um, don’t think it would be too weird?”

“I wouldn’t give you my number if I didn’t want you to call, Finn,” she said as she handed him a torn sheet of notebook paper with her name and number on it.

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