Chapter 28
You Got My Message
“How was your day, sweetheart?” Daniel asks me as he cuts up the grilled chicken into thin slices.
He arrived back home before school let out and texted me to ask if we could have a family dinner night with just the two of us.
Since I’m out of the house a lot of the time, Daniel and I have hardly seen each other the past two weeks.
As he cooks, the kitchen fills with the aromatic smells of sautéing garlic and olive oil.
I finish julienning the carrots and spring onions and toss them into the preheated wok with the sweet pea pods.
Daniel slides the chicken in, and I add some tamari sauce and toss.
A splatter of hot oil arcs out of the pan and plops with a sizzle against the cold granite countertop.
“My day was good,” I answer. “I got an A on my English essay. I'm also supposed to decide if I want to take the AP exam for each of my AP courses, and if yes, we need to sign me up and pay the testing fees.”
“Just let me know when and I'll make sure it gets done. I guess we need to start talking about college soon as well. Do you have any idea which ones you're interested in? We can go tour some campuses if you want.”
“Julien already has a sports scholarship for soccer at CU, and Jayson and Ryder seem to want to go there too. I guess I'll check that one out first.”
Daniel reaches over and side-hugs me. “Lizzie, you can go to whichever college you want to, sweetheart. You don't have to feel pressured to go to one just because the boys are going there.”
I squeeze his waist once and let go. “I know that.”
What I don't say is that even though I can't remember Ryder, Jayson, and Julien from before, the thought of the four of us not being together physically pains me. So if they go to CU, I will do whatever is necessary to get into CU as well.
Once dinner finishes cooking, we take our steaming bowls of stir-fry and sit at the breakfast nook table
“I do have some good news to share,” I tell him
“Do tell.”
“I've already been accepted to the girl's track team for the spring season.”
“That's awesome news, honey.”
“And I told Ryder last night that I loved him,” I quickly add, taking a bite of food.
Daniel puts his fork down and looks at me.
I place my fork down on the table too. “I know it may seem soon or too fast, but from the first moment I saw him, I just knew. My mind may not remember him, but my heart does. He told me he’s been in love with me since we were nine years old.”
“I don't know what to say to all that. Isn't seventeen a little too young to fall in love?”
“I'll be eighteen soon enough,” I remind him.
“Lizzie. Not the point I was trying to make.”
“You make me sound like I’m twelve and kissing a boy for the first time.”
“Still not the point,” Daniel interjects. “Do I need to make you an appointment to speak with a doctor?” I give him a quizzical look. “About female matters and contraception,” he elaborates, and I choke on the water I was drinking.
I take another sip of water to cool my suddenly dry and scratchy throat. “Maybe.”
It's Daniel's turn to give me a look from across the table, but his isn't quizzical. It's more the look of a deer in headlights.
“Okay. Yes, I think that would be an appropriate thing to do now,” I reply honestly.
Daniel falls back in his chair, his face tipped up to the ceiling, and his hands raking through his short, cropped hair. “How did John do this? With two girls no less,” he talks to himself. He sighs heavily and tips his head back down to look at me again. “Please be safe and responsible.”
“I will.”
“I mean it, Lizzie. Don't make dumb decisions, and always use protection.”
“I will and I am.
“Okay.”
My mouth drops open and I shut it with a clack. “That's it? Okay?”
“That's it for now. Now let's finish dinner.”
“There’s one more thing I need to tell you, Daniel.”
He groans but looks over at me expectantly.
“I kind of gave Ryder a key… for the house.”
He circles his fork in the air a few times then digs into his dinner. “Thank you for telling me.”
I take a big bite of stir fry, giggling. “I love you, Daniel.”
I've never said that to him before. His worried gaze disappears and is replaced with affection.
“I love you too, kiddo. Now eat up so we can play that boardgame you picked out earlier.”
“Yes, sir.”
He snorts.
We finish dinner and play an hour of Trivial Pursuit. Once Daniel retires to bed, I text Ryder.
Me: I gave you a key this morning for a reason. xxxooo
There. Hopefully he’ll get the message. I bite my lip and grin.
There was another silver origami star waiting for me this morning, this time in my locker at school.
Today’s note read: “Hearts of fire, hearts aflame, my love eternal only knows your name.” I hung it from my bedroom ceiling with the others using thumb tacks.
I’ve gotten fifteen so far. Some with love notes.
Some with the sweetest things, like what our daughter will look like.
All of them make me fall in love with Ryder even more.
I’ve been waiting for him to bring them up, but he’s remained silent, like they are a special secret between the two of us.
I’m just finishing washing my face before bedtime when I hear the front door lock click and the door open. I eagerly stand in the middle of my bedroom, waiting, as the sound of the front closing and locking filters to my ears. Seconds later, Ryder appears in my bedroom doorway.
“I see you got my message.” I pull my tank top off and throw it across the room.
He closes and locks my bedroom door. “That I did,” he says, lifting his shirt off and dropping it on the floor.
We take a lengthy moment to look at each other.
“How was dinner with Daniel?” he asks.
My legs almost give out from the visual inspection he’s giving me from head to toe.
“Dinner was good.” My hands twitch with the urge to touch him.
Ryder swoops in and lifts me up. I curl my arms around his neck, so giddy with love for this boy.
“I missed you, Elizabeth.”
“I missed you too. Now shut up and kiss me,” I demand.
“Yes, ma’am.”