Page 127 of Love in Riverbend
Devan
I wait until we’re on the interstate before I hit the call button on my steering wheel. Marilyn’s name is at the top of the recent calls list. Before I can give the car instructions to connect a call with Marilyn James, my car fills with the melody of an incoming call. Marilyn’s name is on the screen.
“Answer call,” I tell my car.
“I can’t believe you haven’t called me. Oh my God, what happened in your bedroom? I started to freak out when I saw the door closed. You could see the mental math happening with your dad and brother. That’s why I got all loud. What did we interrupt? It’s killing me. Why haven’t you spilled?” Her questions come too fast for me to answer.
Gripping the steering wheel, I laugh.
“You’re not talking.”
“You haven’t given me a chance,” I say between giggles.
“I mean, it was obvious that after…you were happier. Did he say something? Do something? What happened?”
Hitting my cruise control, I lean back against the seat. While I’m watching the traffic around me, my thoughts go back to late morning.
“Devan, if you don’t talk, I’m unfriending you.”
“You wouldn’t do that,” I say.
“You’re right. So talk.”
“He kissed me again.” I pause a second. “A real kiss.”
The sound of Marilyn’s shriek fills my car.
The ear-piercing squeal is loud enough for me to look in all my mirrors to be certain there isn’t a siren behind me.
“Was it…? Was it as good as the night of the hog roast?” my best friend asks.
“Better.”
“Oh, you need to call Jill. She won’t believe it. Did he say anything? Did you?”
“I told him it was okay if he regretted either kiss or both kisses now that he knows who I am.” I sigh. “He said he didn’t. He asked if I did.”
“And you said no.”
Nodding, my smile grows. “He said once I’m settled, maybe we could see each other.”
Marilyn’s volume rises. “He wants to go on a date?”
“He said unofficially.”
“And you said…?”
A smile blossoms on my lips. “I told him to ask me when it can be official.”
“You didn’t.”
“I did. I mean, sneaking could be fun, but I don’t want to end up as a notch on Justin Sheers’s belt, and then forever be connected to him through Ricky.”
“Damn,” she says, elongating the word. “That’s a tricky tightrope.”
Sighing, I nod. “I know. I mean, even if we date officially, if things don’t work out?—”
“Stop,” Marilyn demands, interrupting my thoughts. “Don’t speak negative energy into this. Think positive. I mean, if I would have been asked what would happen once he learned who you are, kissing you again wouldn’t have been in my top five answers. He did. You did. Oh, did you kiss again when he went to find you for lunch?”
