by Judy Corry
The lake was beautiful, a shimmering dark blue under the afternoon sky. The trees around the perimeter had already lost most of their leaves, with only a few orange and brown ones dangling from their branches. We sat in silence for a while, enjoying the scenery. When I peeked at Jess, he looked deep in thought. His lips were downturned.
Was he regretting breaking up with Kelsie?
I really should make sure to figure that out before I got my hopes up.
“Are you really okay after last night? It has to be hard to break up with someone after dating them for so long.”
That seemed to push Jess out of his trance. “No. I’m good. Really good. It should have happened a long time ago.” He smiled, and he really did seem fine. I’d known him for a long time and would have been able to tell if he was faking it. But he wasn’t. His eyes were bright, and he seemed relaxed with his legs stretched out before him. “I feel like this big heavy collar has been snapped off my neck. I’m free.”
“I’m glad that you’re happy. That’s all I ever wanted. And I can’t say that I’m not happy that you guys are done.”
“Well, that makes two of us.”
“Yeah, but who do you think is more relieved?” I clamped my mouth shut. Why had I said that? That was as good as saying, ‘Now that you’re free, you should totally be into me.’ I internally punched myself. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
“I kind of figured you’d be fine with it. You and Ashlyn weren’t exactly Kelsie’s biggest fans.”
I shrugged, thankful he hadn’t read more into my relief. “Sorry, not sorry.”
Jess laughed. He let out a loud howl and completely lost it, bent over until he was grabbing his sides because he was laughing so hard.
“I’m sorry,” he said, through his hysteria. “It wasn’t that funny, I know. I think I’m just so tired that the crazy side is coming out.”
I just watched him and smiled. His laugh was so funny. I’d always loved it. It was so contagious, the kind of laugh that made you smile more because of how it sounded rather than the reason behind it.
After a full minute, he wiped at his eyes and blew out a long breath. “Whoa, sorry about that.”
“When did you finally get to bed last night?”
His face sobered. “Probably after three, breaking up took way too long.” He shot his hand out at a falling leaf, missing it, of course, because he was too slow. “You’d think that after breaking up with someone, they wouldn’t want to talk for so long. But Kelsie wouldn’t let me get off the phone. I finally just had to say goodbye. It wouldn’t surprise me if she tried to talk to me about it again. She’s persistent.”
I shook my head and watched the lake—the water was becoming choppier than it had been when we first came out. The promised storm was almost here.
“Oh, and before I forget again, I did actually get you a birthday present.” Jess reached into his back pocket and pulled out a white envelope. “Sorry it’s late.”
I hooked my thumb under the flap and opened the envelope. It was an airplane voucher to Dominica.
“What’s this?” I frowned at Jess.
He beamed at me. “That is a ticket to your senior trip.”
“Huh?”
“Well, I still haven’t decided if I’m going to take a semester off to work at my grandparents’ resort, but I’m for sure planning to work there this summer. So, I thought it would be fun for you to come visit me after graduation. I mean, every senior deserves an amazing senior trip, and my grandma already said you’ll have a suite of your own.”
My jaw went slack. “But this…this is way too much for a birthday gift. I can’t accept it.” I tried to give it back, but he stopped me.
“Eliana, it really was no big deal. My parents have tons of frequent flier miles that needed to be used. Please let me do this for you.” Of course. His family still had piles of money. This was, like, nothing for them.
I stared at the voucher in my hand, just thinking about the freedom it held. I could get out of Uncle Peter’s house for a whole week after graduating. It sounded too good to be true.
“I’m starting to get offended,” Jess joked.
“Are you really sure your grandparents are fine with me staying at their resort?”
“Of course. But if you feel guilty about it, I could hook you up with a job. They’re always looking for maids.”
I laughed. “Thank you so much.” I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him. “This is seriously the best birthday present you could have gotten me.”
Jess squeezed me back. “Don’t think I’m not being selfish by giving this to you. This just means I get to hang out with you all summer.”
“All summer?” I leaned back.
His eyes were so bright and happy. “Well, for as long as you decide to make your senior trip. I was serious about you getting a job there if you wanted.”
“Wow. I—” I shook my head, bewildered at the thought of getting away from my problems three months earlier than I thought. If I worked at the resort all summer, I could save a lot of money for tuition or housing…and escape from home.
“Just say you’ll come.” His eyes looked different than usual, more vulnerable. Did these tickets mean more to him than just a time to hang out? Was he planning something more?
I really hoped so.
I gave him my biggest, most sincere smile, hoping I was reading him right. “I’m tempted to go home and pack my bags now.”
Jess grinned before pulling me in for another hug. “I have a feeling this is going to be the best summer ever.”
Chapter Sixteen
Later that evening, we were all just sitting around the lake house when Ashlyn suggested we play the old pickup line game we always played when I used to live next door. It was kind of a ridiculous game, one best played when you were so tired that everything suddenly became funny. We weren’t nearly to that point yet, but Ashlyn seemed determined to finally teach it to Luke, Ryan, and Bridgett who had missed out on our late-night nonsense.
“For those of you who haven’t played this game before,” Ashlyn said once everyone had settled into their seats, “we basically go around the circle and take turns saying a pickup line that hasn’t already been said.” She held up a finger to indicate rule number one. “If you repeat a pickup line, you’re out.” She lifted a second finger. “And if you take longer than ten seconds when it’s your turn, you’re out. Last one standing is the winner.” She looked at Jess and me because she knew we were probably her toughest competition. We’d played this game so often, we had dozens of lines memorized and could go on forever. Although, Ryan did seem the type to have a few up his sleeve.
Jess lifted his hand. “And let’s try to keep it clean—remember, my little sis is in the room.”
Ashlyn stuck her tongue out at him. He smirked at her.
“Dang it.” Luke snapped his fingers. “Those are the only kind I know.”
Ashlyn elbowed him in the side.
Luke held up his hands and grinned. “I’m kidding.”
“You better be.” Ashlyn raised her eyebrows at him then turned to the rest of us. “Who wants to go first?”
“I will.” Ryan raised his hand high in the air. “I figure I better start before someone can steal the few I know.” He sat up straighter on the couch.
“Okay, Ryan. You’re up,” Jess said.
Ryan got a huge smile on his lips and turned to his girlfriend. “So, Bridgett,” he paused for effect as he let his eyes look her up and down. “You must be exhausted.”
“Why?” she asked, playing along.
“Because you’ve been running through my mind all day long.” He ended with a wink.
She shook her head and laughed, a blush rising to her cheeks. It was cute that he could still have that effect on her even though they’d been dating for a while.
Bridgett cleared her throat, attempting to keep a straight face. She said to her boyfriend, “I heard you like water, Ryan, which is good because you a
lready like 70 percent of me.”
“Nice,” Ryan said, draping his arm around her. “You’re up, Eliana.”
I tucked some hair behind my ear and tried not to blush as I turned toward Jess. “I don’t have a library card, but do you mind if I check you out?”
“Not at all.” Jess smiled and pulled out his cell phone. “But first, I forgot my phone number…can I have yours?”
And of course my face burned, betraying me. This was such an awkward game to play now that I had feelings for Jess.
Luke and Ashlyn finished up the round with, “If you were a booger, I’d pick you first.” and “You’re single? I’m single. Coincidence? I think not.”
Ryan started off the next round with, “Kiss me if I’m wrong, but dinosaurs still exist, right?”
That round went perfectly until it was Luke’s turn and he couldn’t think of anything.
Bridgett was booted out during the third round and Ryan lost out on the fourth.
It was down to Ashlyn, Jess, and me. I began the round off with, “You look so familiar…didn't we take a class together? I could've sworn we had chemistry.”
Jess's lips quirked up into a smile, probably remembering the time he’d used that line at a middle school dance, and Ashlyn and I had made fun of him for weeks after.
It was his turn. “Are you a parking ticket? 'Cause you've got fine written all over you.”
Ashlyn bust up at that one. Back in the day she usually lost because she couldn’t stop laughing long enough to get her next line out before the ten seconds had passed. I hoped it would be the case this time, because I was running low on pickup lines and Jess knew most of mine already.
Jess started the countdown after a few seconds. “And five, four, three—”
“If kisses were snowflakes, I’d send you a blizzard!” Ashlyn blurted out to Luke.
Dang it!
I wracked my brain for the next line. Finally, I said to no one in particular, “Do you live in a cornfield, ‘cause I'm stalking you.” Okay, that one was lame. But it worked.
We went on like that for a couple more rounds before Ashlyn finally lost.
Before we could start the next round, Ashlyn had Ryan and Bridgett get off the couch to sit on the floor. Apparently, she wanted everyone to have the best view of the showdown between Jess and me. I scooted to the other end of the couch to face Jess, who also turned in his seat so we faced each other head on.
“Okay, Eliana,” Ashlyn said. “Your turn begins now.”
Now that it was just Jess and me, this game felt even more awkward. It was weird saying all these things to Jess, knowing they held some truth, for me at least.
I drew in a deep breath and started with a line that I found oddly romantic. “If I were a cat I'd spend all nine lives with you.”
Jess smiled at that, a hint of a competitive spirit glinting in his eyes. “I’m not trying to impress you or anything…but I’m actually Batman.”
Oh yeah? “I thought you were a camera? Because every time I look at you, I smile.”
Jess leaned his arm along the back of the couch and his next line rolled off his tongue. “I’m not a photographer, but I can picture me and you together.”
“Well, excuse me,” I said, leaning toward Jess as my competitive spirit fired up. I would not let him win this game. “I think you have something in your eye.” I squinted as I gave his eyes a good inspection. Then I leaned back and relaxed my gaze. “Oh wait, it’s just a sparkle.”
Jess grinned before moving on. “If I were a stop light, I'd turn red every time you pass by, just so I could stare at you longer.”
Okay, that one was good. It probably would have worked on me in real life.
“Do you have a map? I’m getting lost in your eyes.” Enough with the eyes. I shook my head. Jess's eyes were hypnotizing me or something, because I no longer noticed anyone else in the room. It was just me and him, and this joke of a game we were playing.
Jess glanced at me with a hint of mischief. “Can I take a picture to show Santa what I want for Christmas?”
“Your hand looks heavy. Let me hold it for you.”
“I value my breath, so it’d be nice if you’d stop taking it away every time you walk by.”
“Okay, I’m here. What were your other two wishes?”
Jess scooted closer and lowered his voice just above a whisper. “I tried my best not to feel anything for you. Guess what? I failed.”
My mind went blank—completely wiped clean. My head buzzed as I tried to formulate some sort of comeback, but all my brain seemed interested in was taking his words at face value.
But we were just playing a game, right?
Jess wasn’t serious, was he?
He couldn’t be.
But his strategy was excellent, because I knew I’d lost. In the background of my fuzzy head I could hear our friends counting down. “Four, three, two, one.”
Their cheering broke me from the spell I’d fallen under. I forced a smile when everyone cheered and congratulated us on a game well played. When I looked back at Jess, he was still staring at me with those captivating eyes of his. Heat flashed all over my body, followed by a pins-and-needles feeling all over.
A moment later, I was pulled to my feet and Ryan was giving me a high five. “That was awesome!” he said. “I had no idea of all the pickup-line possibilities.”
Jess stood from the couch. Ryan gave him a high five as well. “I am officially impressed!”
“Thanks, man,” Jess said, his eyes briefly locking with mine as he flashed me a triumphant grin. “It’s taken many years of practice. Too bad they never seem to work in real life.”
Ryan laughed and slapped Jess on the back. “You should try that last one you used. I’m sure any girl would fall for it. I mean, you saw the effect it had on Eliana. She knew it was a game, and she was still speechless.”
My face burned hotter. I hoped no one else had read too much into my reaction.
“Yeah, well,” Jess said, his eyes darting to me again. “I’ll have to try that one again sometime.”
Ashlyn and Luke ended up taking Bridgett and Ryan back with them a little later, since Bridgett’s parents were expecting her to be home soon. Jess and I followed shortly, after locking and securing the house.
I climbed into the regular passenger seat of the Silverado, no more super squishing, since we stashed the cooler in the backseat this time.
“Thanks for putting this all together,” I said once we were on the road. “It was way more fun than my actual birthday.”
Jess turned his head to glance at me, the lights of an oncoming vehicle lighting up his face. “I’m glad we could do this, and I’m really glad I decided to come home this weekend.”
“Me too.” We were quiet for a while, listening to the radio and watching the winding road in the darkness. I should have felt tranquil, since we were driving in the rain and there was always something so peaceful about that, but I couldn’t relax. Jess would be going back to Ithaca tomorrow. Today was my last chance to make something happen, if it was going to ever happen. Who knew how many girls at Cornell had been waiting for him to break up with Kelsie too.
“What does this song remind you of?” Jess interrupted my thoughts when a popular pop song from three years ago came on the radio.
I listened to the song for a minute.
“It reminds me of going to football games my sophomore year,” I finally said.
“Same for me. Every time I hear this song, I’m instantly taken back to the homecoming game that year, when you and I loaded up at the snack shack and tried to see who could drink the most soda before having to go pee.”
“Yet another bet I never had a chance at winning.” I smiled, being taken back to that time. “I don’t know why I kept trying to beat you. I always ended up getting so sick.”
“Good times, good times.”
I played with my fingers in my lap. “It’s funny how songs can be so powerful like that. Only a few note
s and you are taken back in time.”
“We should pick a song to remember this trip by,” Jess said. “If you could choose any song to remind you of your eighteenth birthday weekend, what would it be?”
I thought for a moment. What song would completely encompass everything this trip had made me feel—everything from happiness to longing and desire? Nothing popped into my head. “I have no idea.” Did they even make songs about wanting your best friend to fall in love with you?
“What’s your favorite song right now?” he suggested.
“You’re not gonna like it. It’s country.”
Jess groaned like I’d committed the biggest crime in the world. “Country?”
“See, I knew you wouldn’t like it.” I smiled sweetly back at him. “But you know what, it’s about time you got over this country phobia of yours. So I’m glad you asked me. I have a ton of country songs that are my favorites right now.”
“But why country?” he whined.
“Because country is awesome.”
“Awesome?” He raised his eyebrows, skeptical. “So you want to remember this trip forever by listening to a bunch of songs about how your dog died when you were twelve. Or how your boyfriend cheated on you so now you want to go and bash his car in before lighting it on fire.”
“Not all country songs are like that. Plus my current favorite, by Terrence Thorne, is more like a country…pop? Ballad?” I thought for a second, trying to figure out how to explain the way Terrence Thorne’s songs made me feel. I knew where Jess was coming from with the twangy, angry-ex type songs; I didn’t like those ones myself. But some songs were so beautifully written, so heartfelt, that they had the ability to transport me to another time and place where I could imagine how beautiful love could be. “The songs I like are the ones that tell a story. For example, More Than I Wanted from Terrence Thorne’s first album is probably the most romantic song I’ve ever listened to.”