Chapter 15 Saylor
Saylor
I only met him like ten minutes ago, but the look on Dr. Campbell’s face when Heaven hands over her tablet is priceless. Dr. G is looking over his shoulder, equally captivated.
After we finished eating, Heaven freed the dogs and we all went to the living room.
Heaven did most of the transcribing, but I was definitely there for moral support.
When we finished that part, Heaven agreed to at least one episode of Love Island Australia while she was busy making our report look pretty.
She was not a fan of any of the boys, but she didn’t object when the second episode started.
We were more than good to go before Heaven’s parents got home. Dr. Campbell barely introduced himself before I blurted out that we finished our first square. “Ladies, I’m impressed. I’ve talked to Miss Anita plenty, but I didn’t know any of this. Good work.”
“The presentation was Saylor’s idea,” Heaven says.
“But Heaven typed it up and made it pretty. That was all her.”
Dr. Campbell comes around the island and shakes my hand. “Saylor, I’d like to formally welcome you to the team. The summer bingo challenge is a serious undertaking, and I appreciate your professional approach.”
“I’m just happy to be on the team. Otherwise, I’d just be sitting on my couch all summer pouting,” I say, nodding toward my busted arm.
“I think this is a much better use of your time.” He turns to Heaven then and gives her a high five. “Princess Heaven. Good job. You should show this to Miss Kelly.”
“I will,” Heaven replies. She swallows like she’s nervous, but I don’t know what she’s worried about. We worked together and knocked the first square out of the park, and we both looked extremely cute while doing it.
“I don’t know if my mom told you, but she’s making T-shirts,” I tell her parents.
“Please tell her we both need one,” Dr. Campbell replies.
“I will.”
“Good job, girls,” Dr. G says. “Saylor, do you want to stay for dinner?”
I can feel Heaven starting to sway a little bit beside me, like she’s trying not to look in my direction, and I feel like that’s my cue to go.
I mean, I’d sleep over or maybe move in if Dr. G and Dr. Campbell would let me, but I’ve heard a few things about introverts.
Heaven’s social battery is probably in the negative.
I could hang out with her all day and all night, but I should probably give her a break, some space away from me.
“I should go home. I know my mom is dying for an update.”
“Well, she’s gonna love this. Heaven, make sure you send it to Saylor,” her dad says.
“I will. I can drive you home,” she replies.
“Okay,” I say, suddenly feeling shy. This crush is not going away. I say goodbye to Heaven’s parents as we head out to the garage and climb into her car. I wait until we’re down the street before I start gloating a little. “So.”
“So?” Heaven says, glancing over at me.
“Your dad seemed pretty happy.”
“No, you were right. Parents do love a presentation.”
“We got this in the bag. Are you gonna set up your account tonight?” I ask her.
She groans like I just asked if she was going to run naked down the halls of our school during Spirit Week. “Yeah, I probably should.”
“It’ll be fine, and you can message me or FaceTime if you get stuck. I’m here to help. That’s part of our deal,” I tell her.
“ ’Kay.” She’s quiet then, and I remember what I already told myself. I keep my mouth shut until we pull up at my house. My mom’s car is in the driveway, so I have to be ready for her full line of questioning the second I walk in the door. But I’m not ready to go inside just yet.
“Today was fun,” I say, looking over at Heaven. She’s rubbing her hands along the bottom of the steering wheel.
“It was. Very productive. You gonna survive a whole night around your mom?” she asks.
“Yeah, she’s at her most dangerous in the morning and around school pickup. She loses steam as the sun goes down.”
“So you’re safe.” Heaven laughs. I smile and nod, and then I glance back at our front door.
There’s no reason for me to be in this car anymore.
We had our mission for the day, and we went for extra credit.
Heaven didn’t push me out of her bedroom window.
I need to take the W and get out of her face before I say something to ruin it.
Something like I think I love you, marry me!
I turn back to her and laugh at the way she’s looking at me, lips pursed, her head cocked to the side like she too is waiting for me to get out.
“I’m going.” I chuckle.
Heaven shrugs. “I didn’t say anything.”
“Next stop museum?”
“Yup. I’ll pick you up.”
“Okay.” I finally undo my seat belt and grab my bag off the floor between my feet. “I won’t kiss you this time.”
“Why would you want to?”
“ ’Cause you’re just so cute. I mean look at those cheeks.”
“Shut up.”
“Bye, princess,” I say before I hop out of the car.
“I thought I told you to be cool!” she calls after me. I cackle and jog up to the front door. She might not marry me, but I think this summer is gonna be fun.
· · ·
Mom is on a business call when I walk inside, so I have a few more minutes of peace before I have to give her a rundown and possibly get roped into a nighttime skin care routine video.
I head up to my room where I flop down on my bed, careful to not bump my arm.
It feels like my heart is still fluttering.
I pull out my phone and bring up the two quick pictures I snapped of Heaven and me with Miss Anita.
Miss Anita is so cool. And nice. I see why Dr. Campbell wanted us to talk to her.
It felt good to get to know her. Still, I am laser focused on Heaven.
I had to tease her about her cheeks. I don’t know what possessed me to kiss her the last time.
I do love some affection, but I know that wasn’t a friendly smooch on my end.
She’s just so—I really want to kiss her.
Like, really kiss her. I check the time.
Bethany is usually back in her dorm by now.
I send her a text, praying that she answers.
B, I’m down bad.
Real bad.
I thank God and Jesus when those three little dots pop up immediately.
What happened???
You went over to Heaven’s today right?
Yes!
I think about telling her all about Heaven’s room and how I read her all wrong, but I don’t. She only asked me not to tell people that I was helping her with her social media accounts. Still, clearly, she keeps her rainbow princess tower to herself. Maybe Bethany doesn’t need to know about it.
Well??? What happened?
We had fun!
I wanted to have a horrible time
So I could fall out of
love with her.
And now you like her even more. Oh Say. You’re in deep.
She’s so nice. Just quiet.
I think I love her.
She made me a grilled cheese. I’m gonna die.
Stop!
Why don’t you tell her?
That I like her?
No way.
She is definitely putting up with me. A love confession would be a bad move. The rejection will kill me.
How do you know she’ll reject you?
Cause she doesn’t like me.
I can see us being friends,
But she is definitely not into me like that.
Is there anything I can do to help?
Pray for me.
“Saylor Mae!” I hear Mom call up the stairs. Her voice pulls me right out of my overthinking and fawning.
“Yeah, Mom?”
She comes barreling into my room, hair done, full face of makeup. “Saylor!” she gasps.
“Mom.” I ease back on my bed, trying to get away from her intensity.
“Great news. I got you an ad deal.”
“For what?” I cringe.
“Fosters Healing Ointment,” she says as she lightly takes my chin in her hand. She tilts my face up to get a better look at the scrapes. I wince and try to pull away. “Stop it. It’s still pretty scratched up.”
“I know and it hurts. Can you let me go?” I ask.
“Yes. Sorry.”
“How many videos is it?”
“Just one. A before and after. You can say no, but it paaaaaays,” Mom says with a little shoulder shimmy. I know I can technically pass, but if it’s only one video and I get paid…I let out a deep sigh and give in.
“I’ll do it.”
“Great! I talked to your sisters today.”
“How are those little demons?”
“Loving camp. Switching places at least once a day even though I told them explicitly to cut that crap out.”
“They can’t.” I laugh. “It’s in their blood.”
“Ugh. Well, Dad will be home in a bit, and then after dinner, let’s shoot the before.”
“Tonight?” I don’t want to film tonight. I want to lay in my bed and be delusional about a reality where Heaven asks me to be her girlfriend in the middle of the museum, but Mom isn’t having it.
“Yeah, tonight. You can do your nightly skin care and then we’ll get it nice and fresh, and I’ll apply the ointment on camera. Every day we wait, it’ll heal more, and I want the before to be as bad as possible.”
“This is doing a lot for my self-esteem,” I say, glaring back at her. Mom takes her thumbs and tries to smooth out the angry creases in my forehead.
“Beauty and money are all about pain, my dear. Trust me.” Mom pats my knee and practically skips out of the room. She’s always a little perkier when she gets her way.