She nods and pulls away, gaining control of her tears. “I should have listened to you when you said you didn’t like him.”
“I don’t think I ever said it.”
She gives me a dry look. “Please. It was written all over your face.”
That’s probably true.
“Are you going to the fireworks?” she asks, needing to change the subject.
“Yep. You want to sit with us?”
“I don’t think I’m going to go.”
“There haven’t been fireworks in three years. Youhaveto come.”
“Maybe,” she says, but I don’t think she’s going to make it.
“Do you want me to stay home with you?” I ask. “We could do a sleepover, watch movies or something?”
She shakes her head. “No, you have to go. Aren’t you supposed to hang out with Landon?”
I groan and rub my hands over my face. I’m not sure this is the best time to talk to her about all this.
“You like him, don’t you?” she prods, probably ready to deal with someone else’s problems.
“So much.” I finally admit.
“You know that’s okay, don’t you? He’s not Thomas.” She scowls. “He’s not Tanner either.”
“No more T-names,” I joke.
“Deal.”
We fall silent. Summertime sounds drift our way—children laughing, people chatting, birds making racket in the trees.
“I think I’m going to head home,” Paige says after another moment. “I look awful.”
“You’re too pretty to ever look awful,” I argue.
“Thanks.” She gives me a small smile. “Go to the fireworks tonight. Tell Landon how you feel—stop pretending and make it real.”
“You just made a rhyme.”
She rolls her eyes. “Promise? I can see you’re miserable.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“What are you so scared of? You already know he doesn’t have a girlfriend.”
I look up at a big, fluffy white cloud floating across the sky. “He’s going to leave, keep traveling, eventually go off to college.”
“So? We graduate next year. What’s keeping you here?”
I give her an incredulous look. “I don’t know—everything? You know Mom needs me. She and Mark can’t run this place on their own.”
Paige looks like she wants to argue, but she finally nods. “You’re smart. You’ll figure it out.”
“Hey, Paige,” I call as she walks away.
