Page 6 of The Keeper
“On the count of three, we’ll both scream.”
I laugh.
“Or, on the count of three, I’ll scream, and you’ll just stand there letting me look like a complete idiot.”
“Oh come on,” he says, nudging my shoulder with his arm. “Trust me.”
I look into his eyes and for some reason I can’t exactly place, I actually believe that I can.
“Okay,” I breathe out. “You know, this will be veryGarden Stateof us.”
He smiles.
“Nice reference. I love that movie” He turns back to look over the balcony, but I see him eyeing me. “Okay ready?” I nod. “One.” I smile and look directly at him. “Two.” I look back over the railing. “Three.”
At the same moment, both of us take deep breaths and fling our voices out into the city. His deep one booming out next to mine makes a smile take over my face. For a brief moment, there is nothing but us and the sky. No frustration or longing or disappointment. No anger or fear of the future. Just two stupid young people, eyes scrunched shut, screaming into nothing. Two ridiculous individuals joined together for a moment of absolute hilarity. We stop after about ten seconds, and I can’t help but look at Mack with a huge grin. I literally can’t get it off of my face.
“Wow.”
“Wow?” I ask. “That’s all you have to say?”
“Wow, you scream really loud?” he replies.
“Dummy!” I shout at him playfully. I still have the same goofy smile, and I notice the amusement in his eyes and the gorgeous half-smile that sits on his face in return.
“Well before you called me out, I was going to say, ‘Wow, you have a gorgeous smile,’ but now I’m not so sure I want to say that. Now I’m more concerned with your increasingly apparent rage issues.”
I laugh.
“Rage issues!? So dramatic!” I let my weight fall backwards but grab the railing at the last minute, stretching my arms out. I pull myself forward then drop back and grab it again. “Don’t even pretend that wasn’t cathartic. Ialwaysfeel better after something like that.”
We continue to smile and just stand there looking at each other, like fools. Even though it’s kind of awkward, it’s also kind of nice.
“What’s your name?”
“RJ. Why?”
“Just curious. I’m Mack, by the way.”
“Yeah, I know.” He looks at me curiously for a moment, his eyebrows scrunching together in confusion. “The referee with the nipple piercing. She said it earlier.”
He nods slowly, the furrow on his brow line disappearing. He turns away and looks back out over the city again and I follow suit. After another minute, he pipes up again.
“Hey RJ?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I take you out sometime?”
There are dozens of things that I know happen to people who get nervous in social and relationship situations. Butterflies in the stomach. Sweaty palms. A flushed face. Dry mouth. The inability to string together a coherent sentence. All of the ridiculous things that usually don’t happen to me when a guy shows interest.Usuallybeing the operative word. And while I haven’t turned into a sweaty lobster with a speech impediment, I can feel the flutter in my stomach. Nerves. Who knew it could happen to me?
“Sometime?” I respond, still looking over the railing, actively not looking at him. It’s the only thing making this back-and-forth manageable for me. I may be able to throw out a line or two to make him laugh, but I’m feeling very unsure of myself.
“Well, I’d ask to take you out tonight, but I figured you were attending a party or something.” I can hear the smile in his voice.
Tonight.
He would have wanted to take me out tonight.
