After several heartbeats we both seemed to come to our senses. I pulled back and breathed hard through my nose. She moistened her lips and looked up at me with a mixture of emotions.
“Wow,” I said after a moment.
“No kidding.”
“I didn’t see
“Me neither.”
“But… it was nice.”
“Mmm, you’re a good kisser.” Her eyes crinkled with a smile. “And you taste like cake.”
Christy and I didn’t see each other the next day until after aerobics. She was her usual bouncy self, full of energy. Wren smirked at me, though, so Christy must’ve told her about the kiss. Christy skipped ahead of us and walked backward. I couldn’t help but smile, and she returned it with interest.
“Oh, yeah,” Trip said, “I’ve been meaning to ask. My dad wants me to listen to a band on Friday. They’re playing in Gatlinburg. Wren and I are just gonna spend the night rather than drive home so late. Y’all wanna go with us?”
“What kind of music is it?” I asked cautiously.
“Country and bluegrass.”
“Um… would you be offended if I pass?”
“Not at all. How ’bout you, Christy? Any interest?”
“Thanks, but I think I’ll stay home too.”
“You don’t like country music either?” I said.
She scrunched up her nose and shook her head. Then she twirled and danced away down the sidewalk.
Wren leaned forward and grinned at me. “Home alone on a Friday night?
Just the two of you?
“Oh, behave,” I said.
“Is it too early to call it three to zip?” she asked Trip.
“Don’t count your chickens,” he warned.
“Exactly,” I said. “One kiss does not a romance make. Then again, ‘as in the soft and sweet eclipse, when soul meets soul on lover’s lips.’”
“You did
I chuckled. “No. Percy Shelley beat me to it.”
Trip turned the conversation back to plans for Friday night, and I watched Christy gambol through a patch of leaf-strewn lawn by the library. She danced for the sheer, uncomplicated joy of it, and I found myself smiling again.
The phone rang after dinner. Christy was already in the kitchen, so she answered. She talked for several minutes and sounded like she was chatting with a friend. She eventually stuck her head around the doorframe.
“Paul, it’s for you.”
“Why were you talking so long?”
“Just catching up,” she said without a trace of guile. “It’s Sara.”
“Oh. Okay. Um… I’ll take it in my room.”
She nodded and began talking to Sara again.
Upstairs, I closed my bedroom door and gingerly lifted the handset.
“—you find out?”
“She said before the weekend.”
“Good luck,” Christy said. “I hope she adds you.”
“Me too.”
I uncovered the mouthpiece and fumbled to make it sound like I’d just picked it up. “I’m here.”
“Okay,” Christy said. “Great talking to you, Sara. That’s really exciting about the show. I hope you get good news.”
“Thanks. And good luck with your exhibition too.”
“Thanks. Talk to you later.”
“Yeah, we’ll do that.”
“Thanks, Paul,” Christy said. “She’s all yours.”
The line clicked as she hung up.
“What the heck was
Sara ignored the question. “Hi. How’re you?”
“Fine, thanks. You?”
“I’m good.”
“Now, what the heck was that about?”
She laughed. “We were just catching up.”
“How do you even know each other?”
“We met after her little rumor stunt. I could’ve sworn I told you.”
“Oh, yeah! Right. You did.”
“She came right up and introduced herself,” Sara recalled. “Apologized and everything. We had a good talk. I like her.”
“And I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that she’s cute and female.”
“That doesn’t hurt, but from what you’ve told me, she’s already fallen for you. I’m not the type to steal someone else’s girlfriend. Unlike
“Hey,” I protested, “I didn’t steal Daphne. And if I did, I gave her back.”
“In slightly better condition, too.” She laughed. “I’ll give you that.”
“Speaking of Daphne… How is she? Any news yet from whatshisname?
Austin?”
“Nothing new. She’s talking about getting a place of her own, though. I think he’s pushing her to move in with him. Sounds like he isn’t ready to commit yet but doesn’t want to let her get away. He isn’t stupid. He knows she won’t be single for long if he doesn’t tie her down.”
“She isn’t single now,” I said.
“Well,
“She hasn’t told him?”
“No. She…” She sighed. “I always knew it would end like this. Daphne was never in it for the long run. Not with me, at least.”
“I still think she loves you.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. She keeps her real self locked away.”
“I guess she has to.”
“Yeah. If you’d been through some of the stuff she has…”
“I can imagine. Or I can’t. You know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I do. Anyway, let’s change the subject. Talk about something happier. Like your little princess, Christy.”
“Yeah, that’s right!” I laughed. “You called her that.”
“It’s what she is. She doesn’t
