“I know I don’t have to. I want to,” he said, leading me to the bench by the door.
“Did you have fun tonight?” I asked, sitting down on the bench.
Thayer sat beside me, his leg pressing against mine. “Some of it was fun,” he said, and I got the feeling he was referring to the part involving me in the bathroom. “Did Shay say anything?”
“Just that she’s my friend and doesn’t have to tell Kason everything.”
He nodded.
A long stretch of silence passed between us. There were so many things I wanted to say, but currently, nothing would fix this wedge I’d once again placed between us.
“Kincaid’s sending us to Big Bear on Monday,” Thayer said.
My brows formed a V. “Do you ever go to school?”
“Sometimes.”
“Big Bear should be fun.”
“It would be more fun if you were there. Wanna come?” he asked, his eyes studying my lips.
“Stop trying to get me to sleep in the same place as you.”
“You noticed, huh?”
“I noticed.”
“It would be convenient,” he said, his eyes lifting back to mine. “If anything about our situation had changed over the past week.”
The truth hung in the air for a long time. We both knew I was the one who hadn’t changed anything. I could have, but I didn’t.
“Hey, you two,” my father said as he moved to the coat room to grab their coats.
My mother stopped in front of us. “Great night for you and Kason.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty wild that we’re both being sponsored by Kincaid now,” Thayer said, like he didn’t completely deserve it.
“Thanks for waiting with Giselle,” my mother said as my father stepped up behind her and helped her into her coat.
“No problem,” Thayer said, gently pressing his leg against mine.
“I’ll go get the car,” my father offered.
“I’ll come with you,” my mom said. “It was so hot in here. I need some fresh air.”
“Good night,” Thayer said as they walked outside.
We both fell silent.
“So…” I finally said. “Canadian snowboarders, huh?”
“Leave it to your brother to always try hooking me up.”
“I think you do a good enough job of that on your own,” I said.
He didn’t respond, which frustrated me because I wanted him to say I had nothing to worry about. I wanted him to say he didn’t want other girls. But I had no right. I couldn’t expect his unwavering loyalty to me.
My parents pulled up out front. I stood up. Thayer stood too, his pinky brushing mine before linking it for a quick moment. “Good night, G.”