His eyebrow twitches. “A small bed is probably just fine for one person.”
I tighten my lips. My body feels hot. I don’t know why his comment stings so much. I guess I don’t like the reminder that I live here alone.
“Anyway,” I say, changing the subject. “I’m ready. Are you ready?”
We head out the door and get into his truck. We make it to the farmers’ market before Tina and Ryan. I hop out of the car and look around. In all the years I’ve lived here, I’ve never come to one of these. The crowd is a lot bigger than I expect. There are different types of vendors lining several streets, from food trucks, to produce, to candles and handmade soaps and dog treats that look like something a human could eat.
“Want to check out the firework display?” Oliver asks.
I frown. “What firework display?”
“The one I told you about when you opened your door,” he says. “Ryan wants to get some for the proposal, but he can’t do it with Tina tagging along. I told him I would make up a reason that I need them and bring you along to buy them.”
“Oh. Right,” I say. “Tina needs some, too. We could kill two birds with one stone.”
“This whole proposal is killing two birds with one stone,” he says.
“Two rings. Two proposals. One marriage,” I say. “More like killing one bird with two stones.”
Oliver laughs. The sound is surprising. I look up at him. He smiles, and it seems like a genuine smile. The fact that it’s aimed at me is confusing and strange and a little bit nice. The fact that it feels nice is even weirder. I want to say something mean to him so that we can go back to our comfortable normal of bickering back and forth, but we have a truce, so I don’t say anything.
“There you guys are!”
I turn to see Tina walking toward us, holding Ryan’s hand.
“So much for sneaking off to look at fireworks,” I say to Oliver quietly before she reaches us.
Oliver takes my hand and leans down like he’s going to kiss my cheek, but instead he whispers, “We’ll find a way to sneak off.”
His breath tickles my ear and sends goosebumps down my neck. I can’t tell if I hate it or if this weird sensation I’m feeling is a good thing. The fact that I might actually like the way he whispers in my ear is even scarier than when he smiled at me a minute ago.
Tina smiles as she reaches us. She must think that Oliver is whispering sweet nothings into my ear. It’s clear by her smile that she thinks we’re adorable together. I’m going to feel bad about breaking the news once this is all over.
She gives me a hug, then grabs my arm, pulling me away from Oliver. “I smelled the mostamazingsoaps on the way over here,” she says. “You have to check them out with me.”
I look over my shoulder at Oliver while she herds me away from him. “Oh. But what about?—”
“Oliver and Ryan will be fine,” she says. “Ryan said that Oliver wanted to check out some fireworks for a show his high school is putting on for grad night.”
“I told Priscilla she could come look at them with me,” Oliver says.
“But that’s so boring,” Tina says. “She doesn’t want to go with you.”
“Actually, I kind of do,” I admit.
Tina frowns. “But why?”
I lower my voice so that Ryan can’t hear. “I thought that it would be a good chance to get some fireworks for a different reason.”
“Oh.Oh,” she says, realizing what I mean.
“Maybe you could keep Ryan distracted while I go do that? I don’t want him to catch on to why I’m buying them.”
She nods. “Yes. Of course.”
“I’ll meet you at that soap vendor,” I tell her.
“Change of plans,” Tina says to Ryan. “You’re coming with me. Apparently, these two haven’t had enough alone time.” She says this with a convincing roll of her eyes.
