Authors: Renae Kelleigh
LEVI
It’s unreal. So much has happened in both our lives since we last saw each other, and yet not a single one of those seemingly significant turning points has detracted even a little from that reckless, heady feeling I get just from looking at her. Every time she smiles at me, it’s like Heaven blows in, warm and bright and scented like honey.
She’s cut her hair. It’s sort of long and soft on top, but it’s trimmed around her ears and off the back of her neck. I never thought I liked short hair on girls, but that was before I saw it on Hadley. She pushes her hands through it a lot, making parts of it stick straight up, but instead of scruffy or unkempt she just looks chaotically beautiful. I try not to stare at her too much, but what can I say? It’s a losing battle.
Hadley is delighting us all with an entertaining account of her Skype interview for her new job when our waiter approaches. “You folks interested in dessert?”
“God, no,” Bonnie groans.
The waiter looks to the rest of us. “I think I’m good,” says Morgan. “You can get something if you want though, babe.”
Hadley, biting her lip, looks at me. “You wanna split something? I’ll buy.”
“Hell no you’re not buying,” I tell her. Then, glancing at the waiter: “We’ll take a dessert menu, please.”
Hadley folds her napkin on the table and gives Morgan a nudge. “I need to use the ladies’ room,” she announces. To me she says, “Order whatever you want. I’m sure it’s all incredible.”
Morgan slides out of the booth and allows her to file out past him. “I think I’ll go, too, actually,” says Bonnie, rising to walk with Hadley.
The two girls disappear, leaving Morgan and me very much alone. As I glance up at him I realize that, in some ways, it’s like I’m noticing him for the first time. He’s built like a linebacker, with crew cut hair and hands that look like they could easily palm a basketball apiece; a curl of chest hair is visible above the collar of his shirt. As I look at him, he seems to be sizing me up, looking at me like he wants to ask me something but hasn’t yet made up his mind about whether he should.
“So,” I say to break the silence, “police academy, huh?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Orlando or Sanford?” I ask. “Or somewhere else?”
“Not sure yet,” he replies. “Eventually I’d like to get on with the state troopers.”
I nod. “My uncle’s a trooper - or I should say, he used to be. He’s retired now. Maybe he’d know somebody you could talk to, though. I could ask him if you want.”
Maybe it’s my imagination, but his expression seems to become slightly less guarded. “Yeah? That’d be great, man. I’ll take all the help I can get.”
I shrug. “Hey, that’s how it works, right? ‘It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.’ I’m happy to put you in touch with him.”
“Yeah, right. Thanks. I, uh... I guess I can just get your number from Hadley.”
“Sure,” I say, keeping my tone as neutral as possible.
The waiter comes back with a dessert menu, and I order the chocolate cake, having guessed it’s what Hadley might like best (it’s a point of foolish pride that I don’t ask her boyfriend). As he walks away, Morgan clears his throat. “So. How long have you and Bonnie been together?”
“Oh, on and off, for about a year.” (It’s a good thing Bonnie isn’t here. She hates when I describe our relationship as “on and off,” even though there really isn’t any other accurate way to characterize the first six months we dated.)
“Do you live together?”
I almost laugh. “Um, no. Separate places.” I take a sip of my Guinness. “How about you? How long have you and Hadley been dating?”
“Nine months.”
I raise my eyebrows but bite my tongue. Nine months doesn’t seem like long enough for him to have followed her all the way down here. Then again, you never know. If I hadn’t been in school when Hadley left two years ago, I might’ve followed her, too - and we were “together” for substantially less time.
Inevitably I find myself wondering: if Bonnie moved four states away, would I feel inclined to go with her?
HADLEY
I feel like I’m in a daze. Actually, I
am
in a daze. Plus, I’m exhausted. It takes a surprising amount of energy to try
not
to be obsessed with someone, especially while your loving boyfriend is sitting
right there
. Just, you know, playing it off and trying hard not to over-analyze every single sidelong glance that’s passed between the people at our table, and is it hot in here? I think it’s hot in here...
Let me be clear: this infatuation with Levi? I don’t want it. It’s uncomfortable and inconvenient, and it makes me feel like I’m about to break out in hives. But hey, at least I’m smart enough to know it’s a crush. Just a stupid, immature crush...
“So Hadley,” says Bonnie, smiling at me in the mirror as we both wash our hands, “since you’re from the Midwest, how do you feel about the beach?”
“I love the beach,” I say and immediately wonder whether my voice sounds too loud.
“Well, then we should go sometime. I know all the good spots.”
“Definitely. I’d love that.” I comb my damp hands back through my hair in an effort to tame it a bit. “By the way, can you recommend a good salon?”
“Oh my god, of
course
. In fact...” She opens her little beaded clutch and rifles through it before extracting a card. “Here. Salon Red. Ask for Lindsey.”
“Lindsey,” I repeat, taking the card from her and turning it over in my palm. “Got it.”
“I have to say, your hair is just adorable,” Bonnie says, taking me by complete and utter surprise. “You’re one of those rare people who can just really pull off a cut like that. And tell me those aren’t
natural
highlights.”
“Er, well no,” I mutter, bewildered. “I mean, I’ve never colored my hair.”
“Wow, girl. You must have some wicked genes. Well done.”
“Gosh, thank you,” I tell her. Self-consciously I touch my hair. “Yours is gorgeous, too. And I swear I’m not just saying that.”
“Thanks,” says Bonnie, flashing me a smile that says she’s well-accustomed to receiving compliments and is a regular pro at handling them. “It’s not without effort though, trust me. I mean...monthly keratin treatments, bi-monthly highlights - you know the drill.”
I nod even though, really, that’s not a drill I’m familiar with at all.
When we get back to the table, there’s an enormous, gleaming slab of chocolate cake waiting in the center of it. “That looks amazing,” I say. “I thought I was full, but I think I just found some more room.”
Levi pushes the plate toward me. “Ladies first.”
I have to admit it feels sort of intimate, the two of us sharing a dessert while Morgan and Bonnie watch. The cake is so rich and delicious, but I refrain from moaning or commenting much on its yumminess, because doing so feels faintly sexual and frankly inappropriate.
When it comes time to pay, Levi offers to foot the bill for all of us, but Morgan isn’t having it. Once the check is settled and we finally stand to leave, Bonnie reaches for me first.
“I’m so excited to have another girlfriend in town,” she says enthusiastically, hugging me as if we’ve known each other for years. “Call me when you want to go to the beach, OK?”
“I will,” I promise, taking a step back. I must say, I’m pleasantly shocked. I hadn’t expected to like Bonnie as much as I do. She’s a tad spacey at times, but she strikes me as the type of person who makes friends easily no matter where she goes.
Levi hovers just behind her, an amused smirk on his face. This time when he steps forward to hug me, it feels more platonic than it did before. I’ll admit I’m grateful for that - I have enough to explain to Morgan as it is.
Speaking of whom: “Nice meeting you,” says Morgan, extending his hand for Levi to shake.
“You, too. Glad to finally meet you.”
“We’ll have to have you guys over to our new place sometime,” Morgan offers. “Maybe we could grill out or something, if it isn’t too hot.”
“That sounds like fun,” says Bonnie. “Or, if it
is
too hot, you guys could come over to my place and we could go for a swim! My complex has an indoor/outdoor pool.”
When we reach the parking lot, Levi catches my eye one last time. With a note of sincerity he says, “Stay in touch, Hadley, OK?”