“Okay,” I agreed. “Thank you.”

  He gave me his bright white smile. Perfect teeth, smooth shaved skin, styled hair, and all-American good looks made him nice to look at. He could date any single girl in this town, but he wanted to take me out as friends. I was so dumb.

  If only admitting my stupidity made me want Asa less.

  * * *

  The rest of the day went by slowly, and when I told Momma that I was going to dinner and a movie with Brett, she frowned. She preferred Asa. Well, so did I, Momma, but that did us no good.

  Brett arrived ten minutes early and he brought flowers. Yellow roses because he said they were a symbol of friendship. Momma appeared pleased and gave me a vase to put them in. Her date-night lecture was skipped tonight, and I wondered if she had noticed my mood this week. Maybe this was her easing up on me because she knew I had been hurt.

  “You’re picking the movie,” Brett said. “Look up what’s showing.” The only place we could see a movie was the drive-in, thanks to Covid. I wasn’t ready to go back there. I didn’t want to tell Brett that, though. I needed to face it, suffer through it, and move on.

  “Okay,” I agreed, and pulled up the website on my phone.

  “Screen one is showing Elf and then Christmas Vacation,” I told him.

  “Ah, the Christmas in July thing. I forgot about that. I hate when they do that. Who wants to watch Christmas movies in freaking July?”

  I agreed with him. Not the season for it. “Screen two is showing Carrie, then Dawn of the Dead,” I told him. I hated scary movies, but it was better than romance. I was not in the mood for romance.

  He glanced at me. “You good with a horror flick?”

  I nodded. “Sure. Might be just what I need.”

  He gave me a crooked grin. “Want to get the greasy pizza to go and eat it at the picnic tables at the drive-in? We can get a good parking spot in case we need to leave before it’s over.”

  “You mean in case I chicken out?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “That too.”

  “Good idea,” I agreed.

  Brett laughed and I wished I felt like laughing.

  We left to go get the pizza, and then we headed to the drive-in. Things were going good. I was slightly distracted from the ache in my chest. Being back at the drive-in a week later with Brett was not what I had imagined last weekend. I’d thought the rest of my summer would include just Asa. Sure, I’d told him nothing serious, but I didn’t actually mean I was going to date around. I had said that so that he had the freedom to do it.

  And he had done it. The very next day and not called me once. All week. Technically I had no reason to be upset with him. He made it very clear what we were. He hadn’t done anything for me to hold against him. I just wished he’d have called. Or texted. Anything.

  “Jock squad at three o’clock,” Brett muttered under his breath, and I turned to see what he was talking about before it registered. Nash, Tallulah, Ryker, and Aurora were all headed in this direction. The refreshments were behind us, so there was a good chance they were going to get food. Tallulah smiled brightly at me and waved. Now they were in fact headed in our direction.

  “You good?” he asked quietly.

  “Sure,” I said. It wasn’t like Asa was with them. He was probably out with the redhead. My stomach soured at that thought. No, he wouldn’t be with her again. He would be with someone else. God forbid he date the same girl that close together.

  “Hey, y’all,” Tallulah said.

  “Hey,” I replied, returning her friendly smile.

  “Brett,” Nash said, seeming amused.

  “Nash,” he replied with a nod.

  “Are y’all doing the Christmas screen or the horror one?” Tallulah asked.

  “Horror,” I told her.

  She shivered. “You are braver than me!”

  “Not so sure about that,” I told her. “We may not make it through the first movie.”

  “There are always other things to do,” Nash suggested, and Tallulah jabbed him with her elbow.

  “It was good to see you,” Tallulah said, still smiling. “Y’all have fun.”

  “You too,” I said.

  They started to walk off, but Ryker stopped beside me. “Solid move. I underestimated you,” he said, then walked away with the rest of them.

  I had no idea what he meant, and from the frown on Brett’s face, neither did he.

  “Weird,” he said when Ryker was far enough away.

  I nodded in agreement.

  JULY 11, 2020 Well, If It Isn’t Asa Griffith

  CHAPTER 23

  ASA

  “You going for a run?” Nash asked as he walked into the apartment to find me lacing up my shoes.

  “Yeah,” I replied.

  “Huh,” he said, and although it was a single word, I knew Nash well enough to know it meant more. He wanted to say something more.

  “What?” I asked, annoyed.

  “Nothing,” he said with a shrug as he plopped down on the sofa, looking smug. I wanted to run. Burn off steam. I was fighting the urge to call Ezmita, and I had made it this long—I had to be strong.

  “You look like you want to say something to me. Please get it out so I can go run.”

  He lifted a shoulder, then stretched his arms out on the back of the sofa. “What did you do last night?” he asked.

  “Lifted weights, read a book, went to bed,” I responded.

  “We went back to the drive-in,” he replied, then grinned. “Missed you there, but we did see Ezmita again. She was doing good.”

  Motherfucker. He was baiting me. I should have left when he started smirking. “Who with?” I asked.

  “I was with Tallulah, of course.”

  “Not you! You fucking know what I’m asking you.”

  “Ah yes, Ezmita. She was there with Brett. They were going to see Carrie,” he said, then waggled his eyebrows up and down to insinuate they weren’t there to watch a movie.

  She had gone out with Brett again. To the drive-in. Okay. She could do that. We had talked about not being exclusive, and she’d agreed she was fine with that. So she was fine with it. My going out with Bexley hadn’t been a bad thing. My having sex with Bexley when Ezmita had… She wouldn’t have sex with Brett. She wasn’t like that. Or was she? How did I know? She hadn’t been the one to stop us last week. I had done that. She had been trying to get me on top of her and between her legs. She’d wiggled her hips around and gotten me so damn hard, I’d been in pain for hours. Shit.

  Okay. No reason to get worked up. I hadn’t called her all week. She was free to date whoever. But Brett… she sure saw him a lot.

  I didn’t say anything more to Nash. I headed for the door.

  “They were real cozy eating pizza at the picnic table. Sitting close. He may have licked some sauce from her lips.” I slammed the door, closing out Nash’s voice. He was enjoying this too much.

  The stretch between Nash’s and the Quick Stop seemed too damn long. I ran hard and focused on working through my jealous anger I had no right to have. I was a douchebag. I hadn’t called her all damn week. Not even texted. I had been doing it for her, thinking she needed distance from me. Worried I was going to hurt her. She’d been carrying on with her life. Dating Brett and not worrying about me. I was an arrogant douchebag.

  Ezmita was gorgeous. She smelled like vanilla and honeysuckle. She tasted smooth and sweet. Why the fuck was I thinking I was going to hurt her? It wasn’t like she had to sit at home and wait for me to call her. She wasn’t professing her love to me. We had gone out. We had kissed and it had been fucking incredible. I was going to ask her out again.

  The Quick Stop was busy. It was Saturday in the summer. Boats were hitched to backs of trucks and filling up to head to the river. People were buying ice and beer for their coolers. It was the norm this time of year. Going inside now and trying to talk to Ezmita was going to be difficult. She wouldn’t be able to talk.

  What did we have to talk about really? I would just go inside, get a drink, and ask her out for tonight. That simple. I’d made no promises on our last date to call. She hadn’t sat home waiting on me either. This was like any other girl. I was making this a bigger issue than it was, simply because when it came to Ezmita, I had feelings I didn’t want to have.

  I claimed to be protecting her, but it seemed more like I was protecting myself. Which was fucked up. When had I become that guy? The one who cared too much about a girl. I wasn’t that guy.

  Walking up to the store, I waved at a few people who called out my name, but I was focused on going inside. By the time I got to the door to go inside, I was chill. This was easy.

  She was behind the counter ringing up a customer and didn’t see me. I made my way to the coolers to grab a bottle of water and took my time in the candy aisle, giving the guy time to pay and leave before picking up a Snickers bar and going to the counter.

  Ezmita’s eyes widened when she saw me, and I gave her my best charming smile. She returned my smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Damn. What if I was too late and she’d decided she preferred Brett?

  “Hey,” I said as I set the things on the counter.

  “Hello,” she replied, and her smile looked a little nervous now.

  “What time do you get off work?” I asked, reminding myself not to apologize.

  She began ringing up my items and didn’t look at me when she replied. “Four.”

  Four was better than I expected. “Can I pick you up at six? I’ve missed you.” That sounded smooth. As if it was equally her fault that I hadn’t called her. Technically she could have called or texted me.

  “Uh, I can’t.” Her response surprised me. Was she mad at me? Had I been right to assume she expected more from me? “Five thirty-six,” she then added.

  “Huh?” I asked, confused.

  “Your total, it’s five thirty-six,” she replied with a smile.

  She wasn’t going to give me an explanation as to why she couldn’t go tonight. I shouldn’t push. Just accept it, pay, and leave, but fuck that. I missed her—and after seeing her, I wanted to see her more. Tonight.

  “Can you go later? Too early?” I asked, not moving to pay. There was no one in line behind me. I didn’t need to rush.

  “No, it’s just I have plans.”

  Oh. Okay. She had plans. “Ah,” I replied, and moved to get the money I kept tucked in my zipped pocket when I ran. “Tomorrow, then?”

  She hesitated. I swear I stopped breathing while waiting on her response. “I’m free after two,” she said. Then took my money and handed me back the change.

  “I’ll pick you up at two,” I told her. “Wear a bathing suit,” I added.

  “Okay,” she said, then looked up as the doorbell chimed and someone else entered.

  I wanted to ask if she was going out with Brett tonight, but I didn’t do it. I wanted to give her an excuse for not calling, but I didn’t. Instead I winked and took my things. “See you then.”

  I didn’t wait for her response. Nova Cox was walking in my direction dressed in tiny shorts and a halter top. She was stunning as always. She was also not someone I wanted to see right now. “Well, if it isn’t Asa Griffith. Haven’t seen you in forever. I’m thinking I missed you,” she drawled.

  “Good to see you, Nova,” I replied. “I gotta run.” I kept walking on past her.

  “Rude, Asa,” she said as I reached the door.

  I turned around and flashed her a smile. “Sorry, Nova. I literally got to run. I came in for a drink.” I held up the bottle of water and then left. I didn’t look back at Ezmita. I didn’t say she was why I was in here. Nova could be evil if inspired. Any chance she thought I’d blown her off because of Ezmita, I’d have given Ezmita an enemy she didn’t deserve.

  I broke into a jog and tried like hell not to think about Ezmita’s plans tonight.

  I Was Turned Down Over a Book CHAPTER 24

  EZMITA

  I had reread the same page three times, and I still didn’t know what was happening. I had no focus. My big plans for the night had been to lock myself in my room and read. I wasn’t being very successful.

  Until Asa had come into the store today and asked me out like I was just supposed to be willing and available at a moment’s notice, I hadn’t thought about what I was going to do tonight. It was a Saturday night, after all. Brett had asked me to come over and watch television, but I had declined. I didn’t need to start that up again. If we were going to be friends, then being together all the time sent the wrong message.

  I gave up on the book and laid it on the bed beside me, then rolled over onto my back to stare at the ceiling. I didn’t want to be here. I wanted to be with Asa. As stupid as that desire happened to be, because after tomorrow I may not hear from him for another week or two. The last time we went on a date, he went silent. I should prepare for that to happen again.

  My phone dinged, alerting me of a text message. I rarely ever got those. I picked it up and stared at the screen. It was Asa. He was texting me. Was he cancelling already for tomorrow? Did he get a better option later today and change his mind? The girl who had come inside the store today had been gorgeous and seemed into him. Maybe he caught up with her later. My stomach felt sick and I hated this feeling.

  Opening the text message, I read it, then reread it.

  How’s your evening going?

  How was my evening going? Was he serious? He hadn’t texted me after we’d made out in the bed of his truck, but he comes in today, remembers I’m alive, and now he texts me. I should ignore it for a while. Text him in a few hours. Make him wait.

  Who was I kidding? I wasn’t good at playing games. I’d never played games. Asa Griffith wasn’t going to get me to start playing them.

  Fine. Thank you. How is your evening going? I sent the text and dropped the phone on the bed, then stood up. I was not going to lie there and wait for him to text back. That was—ding.

  I stared down at my phone. He had already texted back. I reached down and picked it up.

  Could be better. Wish you were here.

  Oh. Okay, so he was flirting. I did not understand him, but I wasn’t going to be able to ignore him either.

  What are you doing? I asked, feeling brave with the security of texting instead of talking.

  Madden. Nash sucks, he replied almost immediately. So, he wasn’t out with the gorgeous girl from today or the redhead. He was at Nash’s apartment. I was relieved, and I could admit that the knot in my stomach instantly eased.

  If you’re texting me, he must be bad. This was nice. Much better than reading. I sat down on the bed and crossed my legs.

  What are you doing? he asked, and I looked around my room, wondering if admitting I’d turned him down for a book was a good idea. I hated to lie. I didn’t want to play games and that was playing games.

  Reading. There, I admitted it. His ego would survive.

  There was a long pause. After three minutes, I began to think he wasn’t going to text me back. Had I made him mad? Then the phone dinged. I let out a sigh of relief.

  I was turned down over a book. Damn. That stings.

  Not as bad as his going out with the redhead the day after our date, but I wouldn’t point that out. It wasn’t fair. He’d stressed this wasn’t exclusive.

  It’s Hemingway if that makes you feel better. And I was clueless as to what it was about.

  Five minutes went by and he didn’t respond. I forced myself to put the phone down. I could go watch television or something. Not sit here and wait. I could paint my nails or do a face mask.

  Ding.

  Meet me outside in five minutes.

  Not what I had expected.

  What about Hemingway? I replied. I didn’t need to do this. I had been so proud of myself when I hadn’t jumped at getting to go out with him tonight. Now here I was about to mess that up by seeing him anyway.

  Please was his next text.

  Closing my eyes, I sighed. I wasn’t going to be able to say no. My parents were already in bed, and so were my little brothers. I could pay off my sisters to be quiet.

  Okay, I finally sent back.

  I was weak when it came to Asa Griffith. Before I had gotten to know him, it was who I thought he was that I was fascinated with, but now that I knew him, I wanted to be around him. I liked having him smile at me. The way he smelled and the sound of his laugh. Asa was all I’d hoped for and more.

  Deep down I wanted him to feel the same, but hoping for that would be a disaster. The pain I’d felt all week seemed minimal now. I was fine. This was fine. I could do this.

  I stood up and slid on a pair of cutoff jeans that I’d discarded earlier. Glancing down at the top I had on, I decided to leave it. I had never worn it in public. It was too revealing. I slept in it. Tonight, I was being brave. I was showing him I could be as sexy as the girl today or the redhead he liked so much. Slipping on my sandals, I headed downstairs and out the back door without seeing either of my sisters. Checking to make sure the key was in its hiding place, I shut the door and locked it behind me.

  The lights from Asa’s truck dimmed as he pulled into the parking lot. I hurried over to the truck before he could get out. We had to go elsewhere in case my momma woke up and looked outside. Opening the truck door, I climbed inside.

  “Hey,” I said.

  “Hey,” he replied, and then the door closed behind me and it was too dark to see his face clearly.

  “Do you always dress like that for Hemingway?” he asked as he pulled out onto the road.

  “Yep,” I replied. “I dress this way for all the great literary geniuses.”

  “Damn,” he muttered.

  Smiling, I was pleased with myself. I hadn’t been awkward. The darkness gave me courage, I realized.

  “Where are we going?” I asked.

  He glanced at me, then back at the road. “I hadn’t planned that far. I just wanted to see you. Didn’t think past that.”