Page 49 of Any Second Now
“Raleigh?”
“Yeah?” I slowly turn to him. We could just talk about this. I could tell him why I’m being weird so he understands. He’s already pleasantly surprised me with seeming to enjoy all my newfound quirkiness: the Pink Palace, Megghen, cross-stitch, zombie movies.
I can fix this. I open my mouth to say something, but he talks first.
“I’m good to drive home.” Atticus stands and I pause the movie.
Great. So I got drunk and climbed on his lap. Wait, is that what happened?
“Okay,” I say, but I don’t want him to go, I want him to stay and talk to me, to make sure things aren’t weird between us.
Atticus stands and walks the few feet to the door of my RV.
“You good here by yourself?” Atticus puts his hand on the doorknob.
“Yeah, of course.” My stomach drops. He’s really leaving. Because I fucked things up between us by initiating a kiss.
“Talk to you soon?”
I nod.
“Lock the door behind me.” He pauses for a second, as if giving me a chance to say something, but I don’t. He winks and shuts the tinny door behind him.
I hate being in this RV by myself. Usually I lock up and bury myself in my bed with a good book to forget where I am, Fred tucked next to me. Lately, I’ve been reading that memoir about the woman who has a massive sexual awakening after she got dumped and fired. Is that what Atticus is suggesting I do?
Nah. That one isn’t me. Tonight I’ll start the travel memoir. Maybe that’s more my style. At least I know I’m not the only woman who’s ever found herself lost and confused in the face of major life milestones.
But I think that maybe I am not, in fact, good here by myself.
CHAPTER 10
Love Language
ATTICUS
Saturday, July 5
Islept like shit last night.
I can’t believe what an asshole I am.
Raleigh’s trying to be nice and I fucking maul her while we were watching a movie.
She’s vulnerable right now, and I took full advantage.
Well, not full advantage.
And technically,shekissedme.
Then I told her I’ve never had a problem hooking up with women?
Suchan asshole.
I groan and the clerk at the farm store gives me a skeptical look.
“Can you just confirm this address?” he says, tapping on the printed receipt.
I pull out my phone and double check the address of Raleigh’s campsite.
