My throat constricts. I grip the steering wheel tight. It’s silent in the car for a few moments. I’m trying not to cry; May is lost in thought.

Then she slaps her hands on her thighs, breaking the mood. “All right, well, there has to be something better to do than this.” She gestures out her window into the black.

“I think Conor’s playing some open-mike night at that new coffee shop….We could go to that?” I cringe. Is it possible for me to have a life without piggybacking on Conor’s?

“Oh yeah. Lucy mentioned that she’s going.” May smirks at me. “By the way, over/under on them dating?”

I snort. “Conor doesn’t date…but I get the feeling Lucy doesn’t either?”

“Definitely not.”

“They’re perfect for each other.”

“Totally. Although she’s usually more into girls. But we’ll see, I guess.” She sighs. “I nix the show option. After last night, I think I’m going to avoid crowded places for a while.”

“Fair enough.”

She shrugs. “Want to just go back to my house?”

Dammit, Zach, you dumbass. Way to bomb the night. I nod, trying to hide my disappointment and pretend I’m super chill with the night ending so early.

—

We pull up outside her house. Her family lives a few towns over from mine, not that towns really exist in the Valley, which is basically a sprawling suburb over the hill from the city of Los Angeles. I haven’t spent much time over here. I never had a need, or a way of getting here, really. I got my license less than a year ago, and before that it was hard. Gwen and I depended on the school bus a lot. It’s not like our parents were available to take us places.

I put my car in park and plaster on a smile, waiting for the inevitable goodbye with a sinking feeling in my stomach. Instead, she turns with a questioning grin.

“Are you planning to leave the car on while we’re inside?”

“Oh…OH. You want me to come in?” My palms get sweaty, and my heart starts thudding in my chest.

She shrugs. “I mean, it’s only been thirty minutes since you picked me up….You don’t have to, but I thought…” She trails off. “My mom’s already gone out somewhere.” And under her breath, “As usual.”

“Your mom went out?” My voice ends with a squeak. Real smooth.

She rolls her eyes. “Calm down, nerd. I didn’t mean it like that.”

“No, I didn’t think…I know! I wasn’t…” SHUT UP, ZACH. God, sometimes I want to throw myself out the closest open window.