I chew off the end of the first fry. “Yeah. How do you do it? You made that woman’s night.”
“Customer service sucks. I’m sure she’d rather be at home with her family, if she has one. If I have the luxury of going home, why not try to raise her spirits?” He asks like it’s a no-brainer. Something everyone should just do.
My heart twinges as I consider. I’ve seen Renner’s magic at work all of high school. He’s often used his charm on teachers so he could get away with doing the bare minimum in class. I always harbored jealousy because I assumed it was purely for personal gain. But maybe I was wrong.
My breath hitches when he reaches over the console and digs his hand into my fries. “Hey, get your own fries.”
“You have to share with your doting fiancé,” he teases. I watch as his ice-cream-dipped fry disappears behind his lips. I turn away as heat gathers between my legs. I work at an ice cream store, and soft-serve never looks this enticing.
Before that thought burrows too far into my mind, my phone vibrates.
Nori: Hint—Pete Takedown.
I angle it so Renner can read.
“The ball field,” we shout in unison. This is an easy one. In tenth grade, Pete was famously tackled there by a police officer after an elaborate prank. He stuffed ripped-out pages of a corner store porn magazine into all the mailboxes along the street. The incident ended up on the cover of the local paper. It was all anyone could talk about for weeks.
Renner speeds through Maplewood’s old, empty streets, while I shout directions in his ear and pass him fries. With each turn, I’m besieged with flashbacks of that morning in his van picking up prom decor. Only this time, being with Renner doesn’t feel like punishment.
Apparently, we’re a great navigational team. We arrive just seconds before Lainey and Pete.
Renner gives me an enthusiastic high five. “Good job, navigator.” He flashes me an adorable wink, and I promptly stuff a handful of fries in my mouth as the heat prickles down my back. I crank the AC and notice that my mouth is set in the slightest smile. Logically, it feels wrong to smile hours after finding out Dad is dead. Things have never been worse, and yet, I’m happy. I don’t want to be anywhere else, with anyone else. It’s strange how these two things can exist in parallel.
“All right, your turn to hide,” Nori says, pointing to our car.
“It’s on.” Ollie points dramatically to Lainey and Pete’s vehicle. “Make it a tough one,” he shouts toward us from his car.
Renner and I drive down Main Street, brainstorming possible hiding spots.
“I feel like it has to be somewhere new. To throw them off,” I suggest.
He strokes his chin in contemplation. “How about Walnut Creek? Me and the guys used to fish there sometimes. They might actually catch on depending on the clue. And there’s a lot of tree coverage to hide the car. Fry me.” He leans over as I slip a fry between his lips.
I take in a breath and shift my gaze to the window. “That works. What’s our hint?”
Renner shrugs, eyes fixed on the dark road ahead. “Dunno. You’re the brains of this operation.”
I drum my fingers on my thigh. “How about good fats? Since nuts and fish are full of fat?”
Renner raises his brow. “That’s . . . abstract. You really think they’ll guess that?”
“Okay, fine. Something simpler . . . How about nuts about fishing?”
“I like it.”
It’s pitch black when we pull into the Walnut Creek parking lot. A thick, spooky expanse of dense woods closes in on either side. Renner pulls into a little private clearing with a partial view of the water.
He kills the ignition and reaches into my lap for another fry, lingering as he tries to locate one at the bottom of the near-empty container. I wonder what it would be like if his hand shifted to my thigh. I let the visual consume me for all of two seconds before tossing the traitorous fantasy out the window into the cool night breeze.
I cross and uncross my limbs, distracted by his charming smile, and I have no idea where to avert my gaze. I frown at him. “Please don’t smile at me like that.”
His smile broadens, and I feel like he can read my mind despite his innocent little shrug. “What’s wrong with smiling? You don’t like smiling?”
I shield my eyes. “You sound like Buddy the Elf.”
He places a hand over his chest. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“And your teeth are distracting,” is all I can think to say.
“My teeth?”
I fold up the greasy fry bag and roll it into a ball, setting it on the ground at my feet. “They’re very white.”
He closes his mouth, but his grin lingers. “Sorry. I’ll abandon my strict oral hygiene routine if it’ll make you feel better.”
“It will make me feel better.”
He smiles. “Fine.”
“Fine,” I say, intent on getting the last word.
We stare at the dock for a while. It’s quiet, save for the shift of fabric as Renner settles and resettles in his seat, unable to sit still. Since we parked, he’s moved the window up and down at least three times.
“Guess our clue wasn’t that easy,” he finally says.
“No. It was super obvious. But it’s only been, like, ten minutes. Give them some time. If they don’t get here in fifteen, we’ll fire off another hint.”
“I’m gonna stretch my legs,” he says, getting out of the car and strolling toward the dock. He sits on the edge and stares into the smooth blackness of the creek.
I could use some fresh air too. The uncalled-for fantasies are clouding my head. I follow him into the cool night, onto the swaying dock. I don’t speak as I sit next to him. Our thighs are just barely touching, though I can still feel the heat from his body.
It smells a little like swamp, but the croak of nature soothes whatever strange energy has been flowing between us.
“Can I ask you a question?” Renner finally asks.
“Sure, at your own peril.” I straighten my shoulders, bracing myself for a dumb joke or insult.
“On a scale of one to ten, how much do you want to push me in the creek?” he asks.
I take in a breath, pretending to be offended. “About a solid six. Drowning is way too basic, though. And it’s a relatively quick death—” My breath hitches when I realize what I’ve just said. Renner freezes too, awaiting my reaction. “Oof. I went there and brought up death already.”
“Yes, yes you did.”
We watch each other for a few breaths before simultaneously bursting out in laughter. Strangely, laughing my ass off feels much more relieving than crying.
“Why must I be so morbid?” I manage, gripping the dock for support with one hand, and clutching my now-sore stomach with the other.
“Hey, there’s something to be said for dark humor. Speaking of, glad to know you’d draw out my suffering as long as you could.”
“Yeah. Casual torture seems like a good starting point for you. But I’m trying to work on being a team player, so I’m open to suggestions,” I note.
“Whatever you do, just don’t do that one where you make me listen to some annoying song over and over for seventy-two hours.”
“Look, it’s the only way to force you to learn the proper lyrics. I think ‘Baby Shark’ is sure to push you over the edge.”
He snorts. “Sheesh. You really hate me.” In the moonlight, I see a slight crease in his forehead.
Our eyes snag and my shoulders drop. “I don’t hate you, Renner.” And it’s the truth. Regardless of how much he’s impeded my bucket list, I’ve never truly hated him.
“Well, you severely dislike me. Every time I walk into a room, you get this look on your face like you’re using every last bit of strength not to end my life.”
I cover my eyes with my hands. “Are you saying I have a murderous face?”
“Yes. Yes, you do.” He pretends to inch away from me.
“You’ve been known to drive me to homicidal rage.”
“See? Exactly my point.”
I shrug. “For the record, this is just my face. I don’t mean to make you fear for your life. But to answer your question, I guess it all started when you stood me up at homecoming for another girl.”