Page 102 of Forest Proximity
Stevie
The meeting is over. I lost the bet spectacularly.
Now, I have to face the crowd waiting outside the town office building. I see them through the glass, loitering in the rainy parking lot and awaiting the verdict like this is a landmark court case and not a silly town bet involving Bigfoot.
“Ready for this?” Adam asks. He has barely let go of my hand tonight, and I don’t mind. Public Boyfriend Adam makes my heart thump, especially in that T-shirt.
But I’m not ready. I should make Ike announce the outcome of the bet to this crowd. He’s the one who made it town business. He should have to break the news. The way he lingered in his office with Diana makes me suspect he left it to me on purpose, like admitting my failure in front of a horde of angry villagers will build my character. I’m sure he’s right. Or he’s waiting for everyone to leave so he can make out with his wife in his office, the weirdo.
Either way I can do this. After all of this practice I’m getting better at admitting I was wrong. I lost. I failed. I—
Adam nudges my elbow with his.
“Mm-hmm,” I lie, pushing through the exit door into the misty parking lot. The crowd closes in. I’m glad the rain held off for their little press conference.
“Well?” Mary Beth Hanks asks. “What’s the decision?” It’s like she’s pushing an invisible microphone in my face.
Everyone falls silent, waiting.
Adam’s hand tightens around mine. I squeeze back. We’re a team, and I love that feeling.
“Well ...” I sigh. “Adam is my boyfriend. I lost. You guys won—”
The crowd cheers. They don’t let me finish my concession speech. People are clapping each other on the back. High-fiving. Making phone calls and saying things like, “Book the tickets, honey.”
What is happening?
You’d think I announced the fall of an oppressive dictatorship. A lot of people in Cape Georgeana are excited to win ten dollars in a bet.
“These people are crazy,” Ruth says with laughter in her eyes. “I love this town.”
“It’s growing on me.” Adam shakes his head at the dispersing villagers. “We parked over here.” He motions to our right.
“I’m over there.” My car is on the opposite side of the lot. I don’t want to let him go, though.
Adam kicks a loose pebble.
“Well . . .”
Like she knows we’re stalling, Sammie starts whining on her mom’s hip.
“I’m going to load her up,” Ruth says. “No hurry, you two.” She winks at me as she takes Adam’s keys.
“What’re you doing tonight?” Adam asks after she walks away. His gaze darts from my eyes to my hair to my mouth and back.
My face warms. “I should record the last episode of my podcast ...” But I’d put it off if he invited me to do literally anything.
“Okay.” He frowns. “My sister is only here until tomorrow—”
He’s cut off by Sammie screaming his name from the direction of his truck. “Unkie Adammmmm!” she wails.
Adam’s chest rises and falls. He purses his lips.
“You should go. Sounds like she needs you.” I bite my lip. “Can I see you tomorrow night?”
He nods, ducking to press an urgent kiss to my lips. When someone catcalls from a few parking spaces away, Adam pulls back, blushing furiously. “This town,” he grumbles.
I shrug.
