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“This is Clove Lakes Park. Down that path right there,” he said, pointing out his window, “are benches where we can sit by the water and feed the ducks. I figured you’d like it. It’s the closest thing we have to Florida.”
“Wow. This is so nice.”
Gabe parked and jogged around the front of the car to open my door. He reached behind my seat for a bag of birdseed and held out his other hand for me to take as I hopped down. We walked along one of the paths until we reached a clearing by the lake. The sun cast a mixture of pink and orange swirls into the sky. I inhaled deeply as I looked out at the still water. The sour garbage smell did not reach this far north on the island.
We sat on an empty bench near the water’s edge. Gabe tossed a handful of seeds to the ducks and they quacked as they waddled over to us.
“I can’t believe how calm it is here. It’s like we’re not even in New York anymore.”
Gabe smiled. “I’m glad you like it. I come here for a run almost every day. It’s a nice place to get your mind off everything.”
I miss running. Why did I stop once I got to New York? “What are you trying to get your mind off of?”
He looked down at the bag of birdseed. “My girlfriend and I broke up last month. We were together for a long time, so it was tough. Running makes me feel at peace.” His bright eyes met mine. “It’s better now, though.”
“How long were you guys together?”
“Most of high school. She said since we’re in college now, she wants to do her own thing, and that I should, too.”
“Maybe she’s right. Now is your chance to go out and experience life, without being attached to someone.”
“I’m here with you, so I look at it like she did me a favor.”
I smiled, tossing another piece of bread toward the ducks. Was he being sincere, or was he just a smooth talker?
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Did you leave behind any broken hearts in Florida?”
I laughed once, looking down at my lap. “No.”
Gabe brushed a strand of hair away from my cheek and tucked it behind my ear. His fingertips lingered on my face as he leaned in a bit closer. “I’m glad you called me tonight.”
Uh-oh. “Me, too. It’s nice to have another friend to hang out with.”
Gabe retracted his hand upon my use of the six-letter F-word, and we returned to making small- talk as we fed the ducks.
Tanner had told the truth about Gabe’s recent breakup. Was the rest of what he said true, too? Gabe didn’t seem like he was trying to get into my pants. If he was, this was a pretty elaborate scheme just for that. Then again, the wool had been pulled over my eyes before. I was not ready to trust anyone at this point. I didn’t know if I ever would be.
Three
Tanner
I looked out the window for the third time in ten minutes. Now that I knew Charlotte walked home every day after school, I tried to catch a glimpse of her passing by. That was all I could have. A glimpse of something I couldn’t have.
I shoved another folder into the filing cabinet and glanced up just in time to see Charlotte. Clutching something in her hand, her head tilted toward the ominous sky. The forecast for this afternoon called for heavy rain. Why didn’t she have a car?
A clap of thunder boomed overhead, and then it down poured. Charlotte was going to get drenched. I snatched my car keys off the nail on the pegboard and grabbed a clean towel from the garage. I sprinted to my car and peeled out of the parking lot.
The poor girl was soaked to the bone when I pulled behind her. She turned around as she heard my hollow exhaust following her and squinted through the deluge to see who I was.
“Get in!” I shouted out the open passenger window.
“I can’t! I’m soaked!”
She was worried about my car. I think I’m in love. “I have leather seats. It’s fine. Just get in!”
