Ty:Fair point. What day are you moving in, Knox? You need help hauling stuff?
Knox:Tuesday, probably. And no, I should be good. Furniture’s being delivered that day, though, and my ass won’t crawl out of bed until noon. Then I need to pack my shit and drive, so I’m figuring I’ll be there in time for dinner. Will somebody be home in case the delivery guys get there before I do?
Booker:Not me. Going to Minnesota for training. Sorry. But I’ll be back mid-July. Can’t wait to have you up here, man. Freshman year has been great, but it’ll be better when the four of us are back together.
Whit: Seriously. You’re done with finals, right?
Knox:Yep. And my lazy ass passed them all. Aren’t you proud?
Ty:Putting a sticker on your chart right now. And I’ll be here to sign for your furniture.
Whit:So drive up tonight. What’s stopping you? You don’t actually have to walk across that stage, you know that, right? You’ll still be a high school graduate even if you ditch the ceremony. Get the fuck out of that house and come up here. I’m deejaying at Kappa tomorrow night and it’s a beach party theme. I’m wearing a teeny tiny red polka dot bikini. Shit’s gonna be awesome. You should come up.
Ty:No one needs to see your hairy ass in a bikini.
Whit:You’d be surprised….
I laugh out loud and the other three patrons look at me. Like an asshole, I wave and get back to my food and my phone. It’s funny, a week ago, I’d have taken Whit up on his offer. He’s right—I’m not actually obligated to attend the ceremony. And my mom and step-dad aren’t coming, so there’d be no reason to go. But there is now. Willa’s my new reason.
As if my thoughts have conjured her, she stands before me, a fucking vision despite the stained apron, the messy bun, and the standard-issue black sneakers.
“How are your fries? And your shake?”
“Great, thanks. Not as good as yesterday’s fries,” I smile, “but really good. Though, to be fair, yesterday was pretty fantastic all around.”
She blushes. “I’m surprised you're here. I doubt most people at school even know this place exists.”
I nod because she’s right. Hell, I didn’t know this diner was here until she talked about it yesterday. It’s on the far side of town, in one of the strip malls that used to be pretty busy but is now basically defunct.
“Heard there was a hot blonde waitress who worked here, so I thought I’d shoot my shot.” She blushes, and I want more of that. I want to see that perfect pink color bloom on her cheeks when I make her come. Jesus. We need to get out of here.
“We missed the lake picnic the other day, so I thought maybe you’d want to head over there for a bit? It’s late, but we’ve got sunlight for another hour, maybe.”
She bites her lip, and I can tell she’s trying to come up with the right words to turn me down. But she doesn’t get the chance.
“Willa? You’re cut, sweetie. I know graduation’s tomorrow, so we’ll see you Saturday, ok?” Another waitress, Darlene, if her name tag is correct, smiles in our direction.
“Yea, thanks,” Willa answers, untying her apron and hanging it on a hook by the swinging kitchen door.
“So...that’s a yes to the lake?”
She snaps off the hairnet and shoves it into the pocket of her jeans, then releases her hair from its bun. The long tresses cascade over her shoulders and she looks like an angel. “That’s a yes,” she tells me, and I’m damn glad.
* * *
Willa
I shouldn’t be here. Not that I have anywhere else to be, exactly. Work’s over for tonight. School is done, except for the graduation ceremony tomorrow, and I have no friends in this town to speak of. That’s one of the hazards of moving so much. It’s hard to make friends.
And maybe that’s why I said yes. I feel a pull toward Knox—an instant connection I’ve never felt with anyone else. As intriguing and intoxicating as that is, it’s also a little terrifying. I told myself yesterday was an indulgence, and anomaly, but I guess I’m giving myself an extension on that, because it’s hard to say no to his dark brown eyes and slightly crooked grin. When he worries that lip ring with his teeth, I’m done for.
I can’t resist.
Just one more day. There’s no harm in that.
We drive to the lake in his car, some sleek sports car I don’t know the name of, but it smells expensive. There’s idle chit chat as he maneuvers his way through the streets. Before long, we park. He reaches into the back—there’s no real back seat, just a trunk, but he’s got a blanket stashed there, so he grabs it and we make our way down to the shore.
We pass a few dogs and their owners, but otherwise, the lake is pretty deserted. Knox finds a spot that’s sort of tucked away. The sun is low, and it casts a rosy glow over the water. The effect is beautiful. It’s been a long time since I lived near the water, and I miss it, so I lift my face to the waning sun, trying to soak up some of its energy.
