"Uh," Dru cleared her throat and my head snapped to look at her. I’d forgotten she was with me. She said, “Thank you, Jeremy, but you came to see Ginger, too, right?

We all laughed.

"Hey, Dru.” He leaned in and hugged her. “How you doing?”

“I’ll be better when you hook me up with one of your rich friends.”

"Well when I get some rich friends, I'll be sure to let you know. And speaking of rich friends,” he reached for my hand, “would you mind if I stole yours away?”

“Hold up. She’s rich?” Dru leaned to the side. “Nobody told me that.”

“Maybe not with money, but she’s rich in all the ways that count.”

“Awwww...you’re so sweet,” Dru began, “that I just felt three cavities pop up in my mouth.”

“Girl, bye.” I laughed.

“Wait, where are you going?”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said to Dru, but looked at Jeremy as he opened the passenger door for me. “I’ll go anywhere Jeremy wants to take me.”

“Awww man, the two of you!”

When Jeremy hopped into the car, we waved to Dru, who still stood in the middle of the street pretending to dab away her fake tears.

We laughed at her, then Jeremy turned to me. “Did you mean that. You’ll go wherever I’ll take you?”

I stared at Jeremy for a long moment and took inventory in my head: we were best friends, he wanted to be a pastor, I didn’t want to be a pastors’ wife, he had his plans and I had mine.

And then, there was that kiss last night.

I repeated the list a few times, before I nodded.

Then with a smile, he said, “Well then hold on, Ginger Allen. ‘Cause if you’re rollin’ with me, then you’re in for a helluva ride.”

Chapter 3

I had no idea where we were going, but I didn’t even ask Jeremy. I just went for the ride. When he stopped at a corner shop to pick up two tuna sandwiches and sodas, I grabbed the bag as he paid the cashier and we hopped back into his car.

We stayed silent, each engrossed in our own thoughts that I suspected were much the same. I was glad when Jeremy pulled into City Park and we settled on a bench near the tennis courts.

As the sun ascended in its arch toward the top of the sky and tourists strolled by, this would have been a scene that normally, would have filled me with peace. But it was difficult to feel any kind of harmony with the elephant that squeezed itself on the bench between us.

I pushed my sandwich aside; as much as I loved tuna, today it was tasteless. Jeremy must have felt the same way because he’d only taken two bites before he did the same thing.

He leaned forward, his arms crossed, resting on his knees. His eyes were away from me, when he said, “So are you going to say anything about our kiss last night?” I was trying to figure out what to say, but Jeremy didn’t give me a chance. He added, “Because I’m about to kiss you again, Ginger.” He sounded breathless and I was so glad my eyes were hidden behind my sunglasses.