Page 32 of Wildest Dreams

I shake my head.

“Garion, we need to get back on the water before these kids kill each other.”

Garion says goodbye to Tucker, gets back in the boat, and we pull off. As we’re leaving the dock, I can’t help but turn to look at Tucker and Whitney. Whitney has her back to me, but Tucker’s eyes meet mine as he takes a swig of his beer. I turn back around, feeling smug.

Once we’re in the middle of the lake, Garion puts an innertube in the water, helps his two oldest boys onto it, and we pull them around the river. Their lifejackets swallow their lanky bodies, and at times all we can see are the tops of their blond heads peeping out over the neon green nylon.

Patsy, recovered from her burst of anger at Tucker, turns her attention to a happier subject.

“So,” she says, her excitement infectious, “tell me about Saturday night!”

“Saturday…” I say, tapping my lip with my finger. “I don’t recall.”

“Oh, whatever. Start from the beginning.”

I go through every step of my night with Pierre—the pizza, the wine, the conversation, and most importantly, those kisses. His lips, his smell, his everything.

“Girl, you are in love with him.”

“I’ve seen him three times. That’s hardly enough time to fall in love with someone. Besides, he’s leav?—”

“He’s leaving in a few weeks, blah blah blah. He’s here now, and you are besotted.”

I bite my bottom lip. “Okay,” I admit. “Maybe a little.”

Patsy squeals, garnering a look from her husband.

“I bet it feels good to see Tucker, knowing that Pierre f-ing Chatham is the last guy you kissed, not to mention the next guy you’ll… you know.”

“Patsy!”

“Whatever. You know it’s going to happen. Admit it, though. It has to feel good.”

I nod slowly. “Yeah,” I say through clenched teeth. “Yeah, it does.”

“I would say I told you so, but you already know I did.”

“Yes, yes. You’re always right.”

She puts her arm around me and draws me close for a side hug. I put my temple to hers.

“Oh!” she says. “Guess what the second-best thing to happen with this movie coming to town is?”

“What’s that?”

“They actually do need locals for extras! The newspaper posted it online. One day next week, they need kids for a scene at the baseball fields. I’m taking Gunner, Archer, and Buck. Then they’re doing several days and nights downtown on Main Street and it says all ages, so I can bring all five boys. My mama and my gran are coming too. I’m so excited I could scream. You have to come.”

“Nope. I’m good.”

“What? You don’t want to be in your boyfriend’s movie?”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

“He’s basically your boyfriend.”

“No, he’s a guy I’m temporarily hanging out with who happens to be a good kisser.”

She shakes her head. “Either way, I’m tickled that you’re finally getting back to your old self again.”

---