Page 220 of Hooking Up
I don't want to take the bus.
And she isn't looking at me like I'm the scum of the Earth.
I follow her down the side street. We walk in silence for a few blocks.
She hits her key fob and an old silver sedan's lights turn on. "Go ahead." She motions to the passenger side door.
"Thanks." I open it. Slide into the car. Click my seatbelt.
She gets in, slides the key into the ignition, looks to me. "You, um… You live in Brentwood, right?"
"Yeah. It's easiest to take eleventh to Wilshire."
She nodssure, turns the key, puts the car in drive.
Music flows through the speakers. Something familiar. It was popular when I was in high school. Well, Leighton looks about my age, maybe a little younger, so I guess it was popular whenwewere in high school.
I lean back in my seat. Smooth my dress. Press my heels together.
She's quiet as she pulls onto eleventh.
I watch the sun sink into the horizon. The pink sky is beautiful. But it doesn't stick.
"Can I ask you something?" My voice is soft. Unsteady.
She nods. "Shoot."
"Do you think Walker will forgive me?"
"Honestly?"
"Yeah."
"No."
My stomach drops. She's right. Iknowthat. But hearing another person say it…
Fuck.
She turns onto Wilshire.
"You think I'm an asshole?" I ask.
"Did he really lay on that 'the past doesn't matter' shit?"
"Yeah."
"Then no. You're not an asshole. You made a mistake. Everyone does."
"Will he ever see it that way?"
"I hope so." Her fingers tap the dash. "But I really don't know."
