Page 18 of The Plus Ones
No, idiot, I’m afraid I’m going to straddle you and never stop kissing you.
“I think I should get out here.”
“No.” He waves off that idea. “If you really can’t handle talking about it—I’m done talking. I’ll go to Chase and Aimee’s at ten thirty on New Year’s Eve. How’s that? Does that work for you? Because I will be going to Chase and Aimee’s. I will be going to hang out with my best friends, whether you’re there or not. Whether you like it or not.”
This is the most intense and weird conversation I’ve had with anyone in years, including the time a crazy homeless woman cornered me on the F train and told me we knew each other in a past life.
This is the most I’vefeltall year.
It can’t be Keaton Bridges who made me feel this much.
This is humiliating.
Manny slows down and pulls over in front of my friend’s row house.
I have to say something before I get out.
Anything.
I clear my throat. “Thank you, Manny.”
“Have a good night, miss.”
I don’t look at Keaton, but I turn my head slightly in his direction. “Thanks for the ride. I’ll, uh…I’ll be at Chase and Aimee’s at eight. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year if I don’t see you.”
“Same to you,” he says.
I nod. “Good night.” I get out of the car and shut the door, taking care not to slam it.
The car drives off before I step to the curb.
What. Just. Happened?
My hands are trembling when I pull my phone out of my pocket. I have his number. I’ve never called or texted him directly, but we do group texts all the time.
I have no idea what I should say to him in a text, but I can’t just leave things like this.
Can I?
Maybe I should.
We’re both just in a bad mood because of the holidays.
We’re both just annoyed because we don’t have a real boyfriend or girlfriend to get into a fight with.
It’ll blow over.
Or maybe I’ll finally convince Chase and Aimee to have two separate birthday parties for Finn every year. We can do a time-share the next time Aimee gives birth. I’ll definitely leave the New Year’s Eve party by nine thirty.
I slip my phone back into my pocket.
We can definitely avoid each other, for the most part, for at least another five years or so.
It’ll be fine.
3
Keaton
