He slumped against the bench. “She only thinks of me as a friend. Hermuch youngerfriend.”
“Well, that may be true now, but I wouldn’t worry about it. You have lots of time. You’re what, a sophomore?”
“Junior.”
“And she just started college, which means she’s only two years older. That’s nothing. Plus, that gap will feel even smaller in the future.”
“It doesn’t feel like nothing. She acts like I’m her little brother or something,” he grumbled.
“Just wait. Trust me.” I pointed at Maureen, now visible in the distance, chatting with folks outside the park entrance. “See that woman?”
“Ms. Davis’s sister?”
“Yep. She’s two years older than me.”
Daniel volleyed his eyes to Maureen again and then back at me. “Are you telling me that because you like her?”
I nodded. “I figure you might appreciate knowing someone else is in the same boat. I like Maureen, but I’m not exactly sure what will happen next. Kind of like with you and Nan.”
He appeared thoughtful for a moment, repositioning his guitar to face me. “Does she like you back?”
“I’m fairly certain she does, but I think it’s hard for her to trust her feelings. And I don’t want to push. So right now, I mostly just try to be around her as much as she’ll let me.”
Daniel gazed into the distance before asking, “Why can’t she trust her feelings?”
“It’s not something I can discuss with a sixteen-year-old.” I rolled my shoulders. “How about we go back to talking about you and Nan?”
He sidestepped my attempt at redirection. “It might be alright to push, just a bit, to at least make sure she knows how you feel.”
I glanced over at Maureen, looking like some sort of Christmas fairy bathed in the silvery glow of the twinkle lights. Daniel made a decent point. Even if Maureen wasn’t ready to make firm plans or call us a couple yet, she deserved to know I was all in.
“Daniel, has anyone ever told you that you’re a genius?” I joked.
He grinned shyly. “You could do something epic. Like last year, when Mr. Wymack made that embarrassing slideshow presentation for Ms. Davis at the talent show.”
I laughed. “No. She doesn’t like big scenes. If I did something like that, it would be like saying I don’t know her at all.”
He pursed his lips, drumming his fingers against his thigh. “You know what you should do?”
“What?”
“You should buy her the best Christmas present ever.”
Hmm. I hadn’t thought about getting her a gift. But of course I should. It certainly couldn’t hurt.
I chuckled again as Daniel began putting his guitar into its case. “Got any gift ideas, oh wise teenager?”
“They were selling some fun crocheted tablet holders by the donut booth.” Daniel’s expression stayed so blank that I wasn’t sure he was messing with me until he cracked up. What a cool kid.
I spoke low as Maureen drew closer to our bench. “Daniel, thank you. I’m going to take your advice.”
I reached out my hand, and he shook it, seeming not to notice the missing fingers. “No problem, um, Mr.—”
“Call me Will.”
“Will.”
“And Daniel? Something tells me one day Nan will wake up and notice what a great guy you are.”
