Page 20 of Old Acquaintances

“You have to stay in ballet,” she said. “You need to be around girls. You need to learn to act like a lady.”

Of all my female friends, I don’t have a single one who would hold my ankles and peel my socks off because they know I’ll be putting on flip-flops next. None of my female friends would ask, “Why are you so tan?”

Lori taught Tucker to treat me with modesty. I bore witness to it. He tried, really hard, but I never made it easy.

His eyes cast over my legs, my underwear, the tank top riding up past my belly button. He shakes his head, emitting a silent laugh, and says exactly what I’m thinking: “We are thirty fucking years old.”

“I know,” I grumble. I hand him my jean shorts. “And it’s a spray tan.”

He gets my feet through my shorts, and I lift my butt to wiggle them on. I sigh, sitting upright in the seat. “Okay.” I climb back into the passenger seat and Tucker’s hands press against my butt.

“Hands off my ass.”

“Ass out of myface.”

When I settle back into my seat and buckle back in, Johnny glances over.

I demand, “What’s that look for?”

His brow is furrowed, and he’s biting his bottom lip. “You two,” he says, picking up his water bottle from the cup holder. “Some things never change.”

Chapter Eight

Beach

The summer after sophomore year, our parents rented a huge house in Hilton Head. It had big open windows, a game room and a movie theater. We could walk to the beach and bike to get ice cream. They specifically planned the week around my ballet intensives and Tucker’s baseball camp. Hattie and Tucker’s oldest stepbrother, Gavin, weren’t supposed to make it due to summer classes, but they decided to come for a few days. They both ended up at College of Charleston, so they drove up together.

“That changes sleeping arrangements a little bit,” my mother said when we got to the house. She explained what she and Lori decided over the phone.

“Steve and Jake can sleep in the room with the bunk beds. Gavin might have to couch surf in the movie room. Gracie and Hattie take one of the rooms with the queen beds. Eli and Ella can sleep in the room with the twin beds.”

I remember standing in the living room of this giant house, holding my quilted duffle bag, looking sideways at Tucker. He was equally uncomfortable with the assignment.

“I’m not sharing a room withhim,” I argued.

Gracie groaned, “Here we go,” and walked off.

I continued, “That’s inappropriate.”

Tucker jumped in, “There’s very littleappropriateaboutyou. I’m surprised you know any different.”

“Shut up,” I snapped back. “I’m not sharing a room with him. He’s a slob!”

“Then you can sleep on a couch or on the floor,” my mother explained.

“Hecan sleep on the couch or the floor!”

Tucker cocked his head back. “You’re the one with the problem here, Beautiful, not me.”

Lori came up beside me and brushed my hair back over my shoulder. “You’re not sharing a bed, honey. Just a room. Eli’s a gentleman. He won’t bother you or be disrespectful.”

Tucker asked, “What do you think I’m going to do to you?”

My jaw dropped. “I didn’t think you were going todoanything to me, but I sure as hell do now!”

“Ella, language,” my mom tried.

She always at least tried.

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