“I mean, yeah. She’s just different. This whole time I feel like she’s been so closed off and last night it was like she was finally starting to open up, and maybe like me back. I’m kind of scared to see her tonight. She’s been skittish, and I don’t want her to backtrack.”

We both got up from our spot in the cafe and walked to the locker room to change out for the day. We passed by a group of women who openly stared at the two of us, and Cooper tipped his head to them and smiled. They giggled and when he stopped to talk to them, I kept walking. It used to be a fun game for us, to see how many numbers we could get and brag about it the next morning. But now I couldn’t even pretend to care if I tried. I wasn’t interested in a single number any girl had to offer. All I could think of was a certain lithe blonde that captivated every fiber of my being.

I didn’t stop when Coop called out my name, only kept walking to my locker.

“Finn. Wait up.” He caught up to me. “Come on, you could’ve just said hi.”

I shrugged. “I’m good.”

He looked slightly taken aback but kept walking with me. When we got to the lockers, I rushed to my black The North Face backpack and pulled my phone out hoping to see anything back from her after sending the last text this morning. I was blessed with one small message.

Li’l Grinch: My family is going out to the Wild Fig tonight. Can you go?

I smiled to myself and felt the need to raise my fist in the air like the guy from The Breakfast Club. Maybe when I was alone.

Me: Give me a time and I’ll be there.

I adjusted the collar of my button-up in the visor mirror and ran a hand through my dark hair. My scruffy beard was neatly trimmed, and I wore the most expensive cologne I owned. I felt like James Bond about to go do some spy shit. I resisted the urge to raise my eyebrows and do a fake gun motion with my hand like a true 007.

I stepped out of my mom car, as Olive liked to call it, and walked to her parents’ large wooden front door. I hadn’t even raised my hand to knock before the door swung wide, revealing Denise.

“Hi, Finn! You look so handsome!” Olive’s mom excitedly waved a hand for me to come in. I sent her a bright, charming smile

“Thank you, Mrs. Moore. You look wonder—” I couldn’t finish my sentence before she wrapped around my midsection and squeezed the life out of me.

“We are so excited to have you here. Olive has been needing you.”