“I do. I just thought you couldn’t call something a pie-eating competition unless utensils weren’t involved.”

“Okay, crazy. No utensils.” He put his fork down along with his phone, where he’d pulled up the timer app. “Ready?” he asked, raising his eyebrows at me.

I nodded.

“Go!”

He dug his face in the pie while I sat there and watched. I hadn’t even been tempted to compete with him, which wasn’t like me. Maybe things were happening tonight. Good things.

I wondered how long it would take before he realized I wasn’t doing it. I picked up my fork and had a few bites. It was pretty good. I didn’t think I could eat the whole thing anyway. That much sugar in one night after so many months off it would not feel good.

“Did you just prank me?” he asked after about ten seconds. His mouth was surrounded by pie filling. “That was good. I did not think you were going to do that. Now I look like an idiot.”

“Isn’t that your favorite?”

He picked up a chunk of pie with his hand and threw it at me. It stuck in my hair.

“Gross.” I was trying to get it out when he came around the table to my bench and went in for a hug.

I scooted back against the wall. “Don’t you dare.”

“I can’t kiss you on the cheek?”

I picked up a napkin off the table and swiped it across his mouth. He took over the job, wiping his mouth clean, his eyes lit up in that happy way they did that made me warm inside.

“Can I take you somewhere?” I asked suddenly.

He looked at his phone. I did too. It was eleven thirty.

“You have to go. Never mind,” I said. “Another night.”

“You can take me somewhere. I can be a little late.”

“Your parents won’t get mad?”

“They might, but I’m willing to risk a possible grounding.”

“I’ll probably be grounded for the rest of my life anyway, so it’s not like you’ll get to go out anytime soon.” I realized what I just said and amended it with, “I mean, with me. You can obviously go out with other people.”

He gave me a lazy smile. “Let me pay the bill and clean up my face. I’ll meet you in the truck in five.”

Thirty-Two

I parked the truck in the dirt clearing and turned off the engine. The radio went off as well and the silence seemed loud in the cab.

“Where are we?”

He’d probably never come to the lake on this side. The lake wasn’t even visible from where we’d parked. It was my secret little swimming cove. “Come here. I want to show you something.” Before we got out, I pointed to the mask. “Maybe you should put that on.”

He laughed. “I’m good.”