Page 114 of Old Acquaintances

I notice how neither of them says,Oh my gosh, why would you want him to fall in love with you, this idea is flying out of left field.

I stop and breathe, “You know, don’t you?”

“That you’re in love with him?” Callie smiles.

“Yes. We know,” Serena answers.

He lands on the horn, and I hesitate. “So, what do I do? How do I do it, no romantic gestures, how do I make him love me?”

“Tell him.”

“Serena - I can’t justtellhim. I’ve hated him for the last seven years, I can’t just switch it up on him so fast. Plus, I’ve kicked him in the nutssomany times and the last time that we almost -”

Her eyes go wide.

“Well, he left. He said he didn’t want me.” I step backward, hand on the doorknob. “He says he’s over me. If I tell him I’m in love with him, he’s not going to believe it and he’s not going to want me. And then he’ll just…disappear again.” I open the door. “I have to make himfallin love with me.”

“Maybe you should take a beat and put on a Nora Ephron movie. You know,research.”

“I don’t have time! Time is of the essence!”

She grumbles, “I’m glad I’m done with men.”

I shut the door behind me and run down the driveway. I hop into the passenger seat where Tucker waits, hand on the gear shift. He asks, “What are you doing?”

“I’m coming with you.” I clip into my seatbelt. I stare straight ahead, trying to be composed and normal -be normal- and not let him find a reason to boot me out. If he thinks I’m trying to corner him, he’ll be harder to win over.

“Why?” he questions suspiciously.

“I like going for car rides.”

“Are you a golden retriever?” he snaps.

“No. I’m a Shiba Inu.”

“The fuck is that?”

I say, “I think it’s like a dog. I did a Buzzfeed quiz once.”

He groans, backing out of the driveway, and his phone speaks directions I assume Serena gave him. I cast an eye to his calm hands as they rest on the steering wheel. His head relaxes back. He tousles his hair. He breathes steadily through his nose.

He says, “Stop looking at me.”

“I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.” He rolls his eyes. “This is why I didn’t want to tell you.”

“Because you were afraid I’d know you saved my life and I’d fall in love with you?”

He raises his brow. “No.” He takes the turn. “Because you’d want to talk about it. Something I don’t want to do.”

“I didn’t say I wanted to talk about it.”

“Okay then.”

“Fine.”

Tucker says, “Are you hoping to meet some cute guy out here on the Marina? Is that why you decided to come?”

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