I smiled back, fully prepared to faint dead away onto the ground.
The band finished up and the crowd began to disperse, and still we sat, hand in hand. When I saw Tilly inching her way toward us, clearly trying to not interrupt the moment we were having, I checked my watch. “I’m probably going to turn into a pumpkin soon. We promised we would be home by midnight.”
Seamus stood up and pulled me up off the bench, dangerously close to an embrace. “Well, princess, then I guess this is good night.” I didn’t want it to be. I so didn’t. It must have shown on my face, because the corners of his mouth lifted jovially. “But before you go, I have a question.”
“Yes?” I breathed.
“Could I interest you in a real date some time?”
My smile could not have gotten any wider. “Definitely. I demand it. Though, that will probably involve meeting my parents.” I stiffened at the thought of bringing Seamus home and introducing him to the family. Would I even be allowed out of the house? I wondered what my dad and Belén would think.
“Don’t worry, I’m great with parents.” He flashed me a million-watt smile like he was appearing in a toothpaste commercial, waggling his eyebrows.
“It’s not you I’m worried about,” I said, but I laughed anyway. He wrapped me up in his arms for a hug, and I marveled at how well our bodies fit together. He was warm against me, and I could feel his heart beating, just as fast as mine was, against my chest. I pulled away first and smiled, a real, genuine, eye-crinkling smile. He gave me one back and brought my hand, again entwined with his, to his lips. I closed my eyes, and when he let me go, I could still feel the sparks on the back of my hand.
“I wish I’d done that back in June,” he said, with a smile that glowed in the darkness.
“Me too,” I murmured, and caught myself. “I mean, uh, I wanted, I mean . . . .” I threw my hands up. “I can never speak around you. I turn into incoherent girl.”
He chuckled and put his arm around my shoulder. “I know, I kinda like it.” We disconnected, and he patted his hips. “I almost forgot. I think this is yours.” He unclipped something from his belt loop, took my hand, and pressed a small, warm object into my palm. When I looked down, there was my missing keychain.
I froze. Just when I thought the night couldn’t have gotten any stranger, my most sentimental possession, the one I thought had vanished forever, showed back up in exactly the most unexpected place.
I studied it, winking in the reflection of the fairy lights in the yard. After a summer of self-reflection, I knew I didn’t need a piece of metal to keep me out of harm’s way. I could do that all by myself. But it was still a reminder—a good reminder—of my mother, of my father, and of the fact that I wasn’t on my own. I’d thought I had no one on my side when I’d lost the keychain, but now I had Abby and Hunter. I had Ash back, and Tilly for the first time. And somehow, as if by fate, it seemed I had Seamus. I didn’t need the keychain now, other than to simply hold my keys, but I was glad to have it back just the same. I glanced at it again, ran a thumb over the inscription, and slipped it into my pocket. I looked up at Seamus and cocked my head to the side.
“Where did you find this?”
“At school. The night we met. It was on the floor, right under my poster.”
“The angel wings on my TLC logo didn’t give me away?”
He smiled at me warmly. “I hoped it was you.” He pulled me in again and pressed a light kiss into my hair. “Good night, Tatum.”
“Good night, Seamus.”
I walked, slightly dazed, back to my friends. Tilly had packed up my belongings for me and was standing amiably with Ashlyn. Abby watched the stage, where Hunter was helping break down the electricals, and scribbled in her notebook. She turned at my footsteps.
“Hello, friend, welcome back,” Abby said, giving me a knowing look.
I opened my mouth to dish, but Ash interrupted me. “Tate, I want to hear all about whatever that was.” She waved her hands in the general direction of the fire pit. “Because it looked like something swoonworthy just happened. But my ride is about to leave. I’ll be home Labor Day weekend. Can we talk then? Hang out?” Hope hung in her words.
“Absolutely. I won’t leave out anything.” I grabbed Ash and pressed on her the fiercest hug I could manage, hoping I communicated all the things I was feeling—relief, optimism, affection for her—into our embrace. She hugged me back; we clung together until tears snuck down both our cheeks and mingled together.
We pulled apart and giggled at each other. “I’ll see you soon, Ash.”
“Soon.”
Ashlyn squeezed my hand and ran across the yard, toward the cars and into the darkness. My heart swelled with happiness.
Chapter 17
On the ride home from Sol Jam, I made Tilly promise she would show her mom the new portfolio. If I was going to explain myself once more and go down in flames, she was going with me.
“You can’t wait,” I told her. “She’s going to need some time to accept it.”
Tilly gave me a grim smile. “Yeah, she’s never really been good with change.”
“Again with the humor! I am a good influence on you, stepsister.”
We drove home the rest of the way, going over every detail of what had happened that night, from the band to Ashlyn to Seamus to Tilly’s sudden interest in Paolo. It felt like we’d been having these kinds of conversations for years.
After we crept into the dark house and tiptoed upstairs, I slid into my pajamas, replaying the unbelievable series of events that had transpired with a smile on my face so bright, people could see it next door. I was almost asleep when my laptop dinged. One more happy surprise—there in my inbox was a note from Seamus. I brought the computer over to my bed, laid down, and set it on my stomach to read.
Hi Tate,
So, I just left you an hour ago, and I’m writing this from the car on the drive home.
My heart started thumping.
I had the best time and couldn’t wait to tell you. I hope that isn’t creepy of me. I promise I’m not a stalker. Just ignore the devilishly handsome guy lurking outside your window.
I giggled. The last thing I would do if he was outside was ignore him.
In all seriousness, I couldn’t have asked for a better night. When can we do it again?
Yours in music and
marshmallows,
Seamus
I let out a loud yelp and slapped my hands over my mouth. It was the best valediction yet.
P.S.—A friend just sent me this video and some photos from tonight. Take a look. Something to use for the site?
I wrote him back right away.