Page 60 of Absorbed

When the song ended, Gabe set down his drumsticks and wiped his face and chest with a towel without looking up. He turned toward the door to the house, hesitating before finallystanding and pulling on his shirt. Still avoiding eye contact, he made his way over to the Malibu, propping himself against the tire-well, his arms crossed.

Stacey swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’m really sorry. I should have called you back.”

Gabe nodded, staring at the floor.

“Did you still go to Tower Records on Friday?”

He bit his bottom lip and nodded again.

Stacey moved closer. “I’ve been a really crappy friend. I’m so sorry, Gabe. How can I make things right?”

“Yeah…you have.” Gabe agreed coolly. “Those for me?”

Stacey grabbed the soda and taffy and held them out to him.

“Thanks.” Gabe took both treats, then stretched his arms wide, folding Stacey into a bear hug, his long arms fully encircling her shoulders.

She closed her eyes and pressed her cheek against Gabe’s collar bone, inhaling the familiar clean scent of Tide laundry soap with a hint of his sweat. When he rested his chin atop her head, Stacey’s confident facade began to crumble.Why did I ever choose Jessie over this?

Gabe let go and pushed Stacey away to arm’s length. He cocked his head and wrinkled his brow. “What inspired this?”

“I wanted to hang out.” She shrugged. “You busy?”

Gabe rolled his eyes and the dimple appeared in his left cheek. “I mean the haircut, dumbass.” He shook his head.

“I deserve that.” Stacey lifted her chin. “Like it?”

“Sure,” Gabe replied, taking it in from all the angles. “It’s different. Kind ofMad Love.”

“I’m cool with that.”

“Wanna go up to my room?”

Stacey nodded, then followed Gabe into the kitchen. She was struck with a waft of sauteed onions and browning beef.

Gabe’s mom was cooking dinner. “Hey, Stacey! Where’ve you been?” She had the same dimple in her left cheek as Gabe had. Her brown curly hair was cut short and teased, framing her pink, round face in a chestnut halo.

“Hi, Mrs. Saunders.” Stacey stopped beside the counter and folded her hands over the white tiles. “Just…working. Too much, I guess.”

“Me too,” she said, smiling. “You stayin’ for dinner, hun?”

“I don’t think so. My mom is expecting me at home. But thanks.”

“You’re always welcome. Your mom, too. Tell her I said hello.”

“Thanks. I will.”

Stacey caught up to Gabe on the stairs, and they turned the corner on the landing to go into his bedroom.

Gabe’s room was always tidy. Catching him off guard seemed impossible. His twin bed was made so the plaid bedspread lines were straight and aligned with the corners. There were never dirty clothes on the floor. His closet door was closed, and other than a few CD cases set on his desk, nothing was out of place. Stacey hoped she could keep her room that tidy now that she’d dumped so much clutter.

Gabe left the door ajar and set the Abba-Zaba in the drawer of his desk. He twisted the cap off the soda, taking a large swig before putting the lid back on. Stacey sat on his bed, leaving her Birkenstocks on the floor. She shimmied back to lean against the wall.

“What do you want to listen to?” Gabe asked.

“What’d you get Friday?”

“The new Warped Tour album.”

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