Page 113 of Falling Backwards
“You’re welcome.Um…thankyou.It’s a thank-you gift.”
Aha.
“There’s something else on the back, if you haven’t noticed already.”
That intrigues me anew because Ihadn’tnoticed.What could it be?
I turn the package over—and promptly send her a disapproving look, because there’s some cash taped here.
“No,” I say.
“Yes,” she counters.
I start peeling the tape away.“I’m all for the free gummy worms, but I don’t want money.”
She closes a hand over mine, stilling it.“Please keep it.I mean, it’s not much, but some repayment is better than none.”
Bet her hand would fit in mine even better now than it used to.
I blink at the thought and at her, then tell her, “I’ve told you before that I don’t care about being repaid.”
Her hand shifts away as she leans towards me.She lowers her voice.“Yeah, but since I’m not your favorite person, this is a huge thing you’re doing, which makes,‘I don’t care about being repaid,’sound unreasonable.”
I lean in too.“Ooh, now I’m unreasonable.I don’t know if you’ve called me that one before.”
She visibly fights her amusement.
I wink at her.
The smile gets through.
Pleased, I lean away again and finish with the tape.“Thanks for the thought, but I’m not accepting this.”
“Yes, you are.”
“You can’t make me.”I look over her shoulder and think up a quick bit of nonsense.“Wait.Timeout.Does that flyer say Fall Out Boy are coming to town?”
Maggie whirls around in her chair.“Where do you see that?”
While she’s distracted, I swiftly tuck the money into her coat pocket.
Not smoothly, though—she feels it and turns back this way, gasping.“Hey!”
I think,Damn it,but reply, “Hmm?”I summon my most innocent smile.
“You tricked me!”
“I have no idea what you mean.”I gather my gummy worms and the wrapping stuff, and I don’t try very hard not to graze her knees with the back of my hand while I get to my feet.One could even argue that I try a little too hard to make sure it happens.“Still like the ol’ FOB, do ya?”
“Yes.You got my hopes up.”She stands, too, and stuffs the money between the candy and the wrapping paper.“Take this.”
“No.”I dig it out and reach to get it back into her pocket.She tries to step away but bumps into her chair, so as she rebalances, I succeed.
“Luke,” she whines.
“Maggie,” I mimic her.“Just accept—ah!”
I yelp out a laugh as her fingers attack a ticklish place on my side.I try to escape, but between my vulnerability and my own chair being a bit of an obstacle, I don’t get far at all.Chuckling, she wedges the money under the candy again.
