I can hear her chuckle clear across the street. She motions for me to cross over to her, so I do, my hands shoved into my pockets, because she makes me a little nervous.
Audrey tips the melting dessert in my direction. "Tell him the fedora isn't working. Save him some embarrassment. "
"I've tried."
“It’s a shame. All that male ego … You, on the other hand." She rolls her head to the side, and I wish I could see her eyes as she looks me up and down. "I like those glasses on you."
"My contacts are ruined. I don't wear these glasses much.” The weight of them on the bridge of my nose causes my nostrils to flare.
"You should. But lake water will do that to contacts. I should have warned you. I mean, I would have if I had known you were going to get trashed and try to swim at two o’clock in the morning. But I’m not a fortune teller or anything.”
I kinda think ruining my contacts was worth her compliment, but I don't tell her that.
She holds out the Popsicle in offering. "Want a bite?" If she's asking, then I'm not going to say no, so I dip my head and bite into it, pulling away to smile, grape sugar coating my tongue.
I press my thumb to the side of my mouth and clean off the bit that has escaped. Her eyes are staring as I do, and I'm quiet for a second, lost in thought before she laughs and finishes the rest of the Popsicle off.
"What are you thinking about?"
I grin, and I'm brave looking at her. "I'm thinking that right now, at this very moment, I know what your mouth tastes like.”
If electricity could crackle between two people, there might have been a sound. But all I hear is the hush of her soft exhale followed by a sticky-lipped whistle. “Best one, yet, Elliot. You should invent something to carry around with you so you can have these on hand at all times just so you can use that line. Like some kind of insulated fanny pack for frozen treats.” She waves the stained stick in front of my face.
The moment loses its magic, and I find myself laughing at the idea of her invention. “Yeah, maybe. That would definitely get my mind off Kelsey.” I say it just to see her smile. She doesn’t disappoint.
“See ya around, Elliot.” Audrey’s cheeks push her sunglasses up higher on her face when she grins, and then she turns around to go back inside her house.
The taste of grape lingers in my mouth for the entire ride back to college.
“So, you’re good?”
My weekly call with Cara usually includes this phrase, and it’s been a while since I’ve answered it honestly. She knows when I’m lying anyway, but when I tell her that I actually am fine today, I can hear the hint of surprise in her otherwise flat tone. I’m itching to get off the phone by the time she asks the next question. There’s music pouring from an open door as I pass by, and I know she can tell I’m not at home.
“Where are you going?”
“Crazy. Wanna come?”
She doesn’t laugh at the joke. I don’t expect her to. She just continues with her rundown.
“How are your impulses?”
I cringe and rest the phone between my cheek and shoulder so I can wipe my palms on my back pockets. “Great. Everything is great. Actually, I have to go, so … talk next Tuesday?” She agrees and hangs up, but I’m left feeling anxious as I stare at the brick building in front of me and try to get the nerve to dial another number. It only rings once before he answers.
“Audrey?”
“Hey. Yeah. I mean, yeah, it’s Audrey. Hey. What are you doing?”
There’s some movement behind the curtain as I’m looking up at it, and I can see his shadow rise from what I assume is a chair by the window.
“Getting some stuff together for a project. What are you doing?”
I take a deep breath and expel it with a laugh. “I think I’m standing outside your place. Wave at the window.” The shadow moves closer to the curtain, and I can see five fingers spread as he waves. “Yup. That’s definitely you. Unless this call is being tapped, then that’s not cool at all, and this is how a horror movie would start.”
Elliot moves the material aside and opens the window, peering out at me from above. “Do you always communicate through windows?”
The smile on my face could shatter my lips. “Not always. Just on special occasions. Let’s run away. Come on.”
He leans on his elbows and cradles his face in his hands, his adorable brown eyes looking me over. “I have a project.”
“You’re no fun, Elliot Clark.”
Lips pursed and eyes narrowed, he nods. “Where were you thinking?”
I shrug and hold my arms out like we have the entire world at our fingertips. “Honestly, I just want some pancakes. And that’s maybe a five-minute walk. I’d settle for that.”