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“She’s upset,” Diane said, showing them her phone. Instead of replying to the group text, Aimee had only texted Diane.
Why are you four together? You didn’t tell me about meeting up! I feel left out.
By the time Eric had read the text, Holly had untangled herself from him. “Should we invite her?”
“She probably wouldn’t make it in time,” Diane said.
In the group text, Diane typed, “Sorry. It was a last-minute thing. Eric and Cameron wanted to see the Hoover Dam, and we live about thirty minutes away. Total coincidence.”
“I feel bad,” Holly said, stepping away from him and widening the gap even more. One step forward, two steps back.
Diane looked between Eric and Cameron. “Be right back. You two talk for a minute.”
Cameron kept a steady eye on Diane while she comforted Holly. Eric only caught parts of the conversation, but by the end, he’d gathered enough to know that Diane had fought for Holly to have her own happiness, even if it hurt Aimee for a while.
When they climbed back into Diane’s family car, instead of sitting in the captain seat of the van, Holly crawled all the way to the back and gestured for Eric to sit next to her.
“We’re not your chauffeurs,” Diane called from the front. “I don’t want to hear kissy noises coming from the back.”
“Don’t worry,” Holly said, moving to the girlfriend seat in the middle while he took the window seat. “You won’t hear a thing. Just drive. And go straight to the pizza shop when you get back in town. I’m starving.”
“Me too.” Eric buckled his seat belt, then glanced out the window, watching Diane weave around the dam traffic.
Suddenly Holly took his hand.
“I’m sorry,” she said, holding his hand in both of hers. “I know I’ve been really confusing and somewhat wishy-washy about how I feel.”
Actually, she hadn’t. He knew exactly how she felt. “Do you like me?” he asked.
She ducked her head and nodded.
“And do you care about Aimee’s feelings?”
She lifted her head and showed an expression full of confusion. “Yeah, it’s killing me that she’s angry right now. I’ll probably feel the full wrath of that when I return to school. Already, she doesn’t like us hanging out together.”
He nodded and added his other hand to the pile. “Well then, I think you’re not being wishy-washy at all. You’re being considerate and careful, and I’m happy to go at your speed. Honestly, I’m just glad you didn’t push us away when you first opened the door at your parents’ house.”
She smiled and leaned against his shoulder. Holding one of her hands, he lifted his other hand and smoothed down her straight hair, relishing the soft texture.
She moaned and closed her eyes. “You’re going to put me to sleep. The last time someone played with my hair, I fell asleep in the hairdresser’s chair.”
He kissed the top of her hair, making her shiver. “You’re cute. Go to sleep, and I’ll work my magic with your hair. Mom always made me brush her hair when I was younger, so I’ve always fantasized about playing with my girlfriend’s hair.”
“Wait, what?” She pulled away from him, holding both her arms at the elbows. “Are we . . . that? Girlfriend and boyfriend?”
He smiled at her innocent question. “Well, we’re definitely more than friends.” When she nodded, he took out the necklace box he had stowed away in his jacket. He held it out with shaky hands. “Do you want to be together?”
She nodded with tears in her eyes and took the box. “I honestly thought I’d never date again after my accident.”
“I don’t know why I get to be so lucky, but I can tell you that those guys are truly missing out.”
Since they were both buckled, it was a little awkward, but Eric wrapped both arms around her and hugged her close. “Phew, that’s a relief. I thought, for sure, you’d turn me down.”
She shook her head and backed away as he popped the necklace box open. Her eyes sparkled as she leaned in. “It matches my dress. Oh, I love it! Thank you.”
“What is it?” Diane called from the front seat.
“He got me a necklace that matches my dress from the dance.”
