Page 21 of Run
I put my hands up in front of me and shrug. With eyebrows raised and mouth agape, I ask her again, silently this time …What?
“You are maddening, Ethan James!” She stomps a foot that kicks up dirt around her legs.
“Me?!” I stab my thumb in my chest.
“You’re the only Ethan James here, aren’t you?”
“What … How … I’m out. I don’t know what questions to even ask.”
“OK, let me take it from here.” Ari takes a step toward me then stops, resting one hand on her hip. The other she holds up in front of her in a fist, popping out her thumb. “First, you embarrassed me when my date came to pick me up tonight.”
“That abomination of the male species cannot be considered your date,” I interject.
“Second”—Ari flicks her pointer finger out, without letting me finish—“you team up with Lena to continue embarrassing me which, what was that all about? When have you ever agreed with Lena on anything?”
“Well, she was right! That guy was not for real—”
“Third”—Ari’s middle finger joins her thumb and pointer—“you go all dad mode on me and act like no one is good enough for me.”
“That goober is definitely not good enough for you!”
“Fourth!” Ari adds her ring finger to her display of disdain for me, but half her pinkie comes with it on reflex, so she uses her other hand to keep it down. “You were the one who made me go on that stupid date in the first place!”
“How?”
“With your stupid‘You’ll have a first kiss’and‘It’ll be awkward and magical and blah, blah, blah.’”
“Ari. I didn’t mean—”
“Fifth,” Ari splays her whole hand in my face.
“There’s more?” I pull my eyebrows up, eyes wide as we stare off.
“You gave me an unrealistic expectation for my first date.”
“How on earth did I do that?”
Ari lowers her hand and looks into my eyes, finally taking a moment to catch her breath. “You’re you,” she says softly. “You’re thoughtful. You always carry things for me. You always let me go first. You ask if I want more chips before Fonz finishes the bag. Whenever you get yourself a pop you always bring a can for me without even asking.”
I slowly lower my hands from my hips as she continues.
“You know when I’m uncomfortable around a crowd and you make sure to include me in conversation. And you’re, you know,” she waves a hand up and down my body, “not terrible to look at.” Ari blushes, and I may, too. “I guess I just thought maybe every guy would have at least some of those qualities, too.”
I let out a breath through puffed cheeks. “Let me guess, Hornball Harris wasn’t very thoughtful.”
She chuckles but there’s no humor in it. “No, not the least bit. He stood with a group of his friends all night making stupidjokes. He never got me any punch—even when he got his own and refilled it. He never even asked me to dance.”
My chest constricts. Why can’t this girl have anything go well?
“I’m gonna go in and change.” Ari takes a step away, but I grab her forearm.
“Wait. Come with me.” I give a gentle tug.
“Where are we going?”
Sliding my hand down her wrist until I get to her hand, I thread my fingers through hers. “Your date can’t end until you have a dance. It’s kind of a rule.” I pull her behind me and we take steps toward the back of my house. There’s a pathetic little concrete slab back here where a grill is set up next to it. A broken planter rests in the corner with a dead pink flower folded over and soil spilling out the side. Mom put up a few tiki torches in the spring in case her and Dad ever wanted to come hang out at night. But that hasn’t happened so I’m sure they still have some oil left in them.
“Stay right here.” Stepping over to the grill and searching for a lighter, I cheer “Aha!” when I find one, then walk over and light one torch, then the other.“‘Not a total betty but a vast improvement.’” I swivel around and point at Ari, who rolls her eyes.
