“I could probably find a place. The house is a lot bigger than my studio.”
“So is your apartment gone?”
I looked back up at the ceiling. “I still have it for another three months. I couldn’t get out of the lease. But Mom paid the mortgage on the house through the summer so I’m not paying on two places.”
“Will you take me to see it?” she asked.
I looked back at her. “The apartment? Of course. It won’t have any furniture though.”
“I’m only coming for the Toilet King.”
I laughed and we lay there and gazed at each other.
I couldn’t help but think that this is what it would be like in bed with her. Talking and laughing, her hair fanned out under her like it was now.
She bit her lip. “I’m glad I came,” she said.
“Me too. I wanted to show you all Minnesota has to offer. You would have missed the hairpiece kiosk.”
We laughed but it was short-lived. My smile fell and I looked back at the ceiling.
“My life is pretty shitty right now, Emma,” I said. “I’m sure you could find much better dates.”
She gasped playfully. “Are you breaking up with me?”
“I’m serious.”
She sat up and propped her head in her hand, smiling. “I like the dates you take me on. I wanted to come today, and I’ve had a very good time.”
I searched her face for something deeper than what she probably meant, but before I could find it, she glanced at something over my shoulder. Alex and Sarah walked into the store. My sister stopped in front of our bean bag, looking disgusted.
“If you guys are done making out, can we go?” Sarah said, crossing her arms.
I sat up on my elbows. “Hey, how was the amusement park?”
They hadn’t met us for dinner. Besides a quick thirty seconds when they found me on the bench outside Sephora to get cash for the food court, I hadn’t seen them all day.
“It sucked,” Sarah said.
“No, it didn’t,” Alex said. “It was awesome!”
Sarah gave him a look. “Maybe for you. Hanging out with my brother isn’t my idea of a good time. I’ll be outside. I want to go.”
She left the store, and Alex threw his hands up in exasperation and went out after her.
I glanced at Emma and sighed.
“She’s right, you know,” Emma said, sitting up on her elbows too. “You should let her bring a friend next time.”
“Alex didn’t need a friend.”
“Alex is going to have fun no matter what and no matter who he’s with.”
I bobbed my head. “Okay. True.”
She nudged my knee with hers. “You don’t remember what it was like to be that age? It doesn’t matter how cool the thing is, if they don’t have a friend they won’t have fun. Trust me. It will save you a ton of grief, it’s a teenager hack.”
I guess she had a point. I mean, it wasn’t much different for me when I thought about it. I didn’t want to be at the mall—it had lost its novelty for me about fifteen years ago. I was only here for the kids. But with Emma here, I couldn’t think of any place I’d rather be. Even earlier when Maddy was in Sephora and Emma and I sat on the bench outside just talking, Chelsea knocked out in her stroller, it was fun.
It’s funny how when you find someone you like as much as I liked her, the destination is suddenly wherever they are. Even if there’s someplace better, you wouldn’t go if they couldn’t come.
I puffed air from my cheeks. “Maybe I should see if Josie can get dropped off at the water park tomorrow.”
“You should.”
I arched an eyebrow. “I don’t suppose you want to go to the water park tomorrow. I’ll buy your ticket. Maddy’s too,” I added quickly.
But she shook her head. “No. I promised Neil I’d put in some hostas.”
I nodded. “Right. Okay.” I tried to keep the disappointment out of my voice. “And where are you putting the rosebush?”
She tilted her head. “I don’t know. I have to find a good spot.”
“Let me know if you need help planting it.”
“I’ve got Maddy.”
“So you’re saying she’s good at digging holes…”
