Page 30 of Hide and Sneak
Finally, she looks over at me. Tiny mud splatters dot her face, her arms are streaked with it, and her jeans are bound to be stiff by the time we get home. My chest is going to explode. After another few seconds of silence, she glances at her face in the rearview mirror, looks down at herself, then back at me, and shakes her head.
“I was having a nice, quiet evening curled up on my couch with a blanket and cup of tea.” Her lips curl up slightly as she restrains a smile.
“It…looked fun. Was it fun?”
“Do you want to ride in the trunk?”
“I’m starting to think it might be safer.”
She turns on some music and starts the drive back. I can’t look at her without chuckling so I keep my gaze pointed at the passing scenery until we’re home. She heads straight for the shower while I order her favorite Mexican food as a peace offering. And a thank you because she rescued me.
After her shower, she stays in her room, only coming out to grab her plate. She never eats in her room. Is she really angry over the mud? Or avoiding me because of last night? It seems to be the way she deals with things, but I like to be more direct. I’m a firm believer in clearing the air.
Hours later, on my way to bed, I tap on her door.
“What?” Again with the reluctant tone. She’s sitting on her bed playing Third Place with Dusty lying next to her.
“Are you pissed about today or last night? I know both were kind of dirty, but there’s only one I’m willing to apologize for.”
Her eyes stay locked on her computer screen while Dusty lifts his head for me to scratch behind his ears. “I’m not mad about anything.”
“You never eat or game in your room. Always the living room. You’re avoiding me. If it’s because we?—”
“No,” she interrupts. “Nothing happened. I’m not avoiding you. Everything’s fine. Shut my door behind you.”
She’s so full of it. “That’s how you want to play this?”
“Yep.”
For once, I’m not going to keep teasing her. Maybe I’m also afraid of where it might lead. “Good night, Delilah.”
It’s clear by the next night that she’s definitely avoiding me. She’s gone before I get off work and doesn’t come home until the next afternoon. I’m torn between knowing that’s for the best and wanting to be around her.
“Where have you been, young lady?” Amos teases her when she gets home.
“Bondage sex club.” She snatches the bag of chips out of his hand, eats one and hands it back to him. Ever since he was grossed out by her handcuff joke, she doesn’t miss an opportunity to do it again. “Are you bringing Mandy to the party tonight?”
“We’ll stop in for a while but she never wants to stay out late. She isn’t much of a partier.”
“I like her already,” Lila says.
The pool party isn’t supposed to start until eight, but by five, it’s storming again. Lila has been texting furiously with someone for a few minutes when she sets her phone on the counter and announces. “Party is cancelled. Maren’s trying to round up some neighbors to hit the bar with us tonight instead if you two want to go.”
So much for admiring Lila in a bathing suit. “Yeah, I’m in,” I agree.
“I’ll ask Mandy,” Amos replies.
Lila gets out the pitcher of iced tea, then opens the cabinet. “Sutton, I swear to god!” She pulls the polka dotted tumbler off the shelf. “Are you kidding me? You got the damn thing back out of the trashtwice?”
I totally forgot that I put that back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She charges toward me, holding the cup out, and Amos laughs when I hide behind him.
“You know what? Fine.” She carries the cup out the front door. Amos and I watch as she crosses the street in the rain and disappears between two trailers.
“She told me to throw it away because she thinks Dusty dunked it in the toilet,” I explain.
A grin grows on his face. “You know the dollar store on East Street has them. Exact same design and everything.”
“You’re a genius.”
