dripping. Then she dabbed around the scrape to get rid of the excess.
Don t touch that. It needs to dry. Let me see your elbow now.
Ollie, it s fine. It isn t even bleeding anymore.
You still need to clean it.
I took a shower.
She rolled her eyes again. I m sure that killed whatever lives
on those skate ramps.
Whatever, dude. I turned my arm so she could look at my
elbow. See, it s fine.
Sure it is. With that, she saturated my elbow with peroxide
too. It didn t sting. My aversion was probably psychological. Glow
in the dark? She inspected one of my boxes of Band-Aids.
Don t mock my Band-Aids.
Is your knee dry yet?
" 101 "
ASHLEY BARTLETT
I think so. Carefully, I probed it. Yeah.
Ollie placed a large square Band-Aid right below my knee
where the gash was the worst. Under that she placed two more
across my shin where it was still bleeding. After inspecting my
elbow again, she decided it didn t need any further attention.
There. You re all set.
Thanks, Ollie. I stood. I m gonna find pants. She nodded and
started putting stuff away. I pulled on a fresh pair of jeans, collapsed
on the couch, and waited for Ollie. I might have fallen asleep again.
Now, McKenna, you can tell me what the hell is wrong with
you. I opened my eyes to find her standing in front of me with her
hands on her hips looking royally pissed.
Huh?
You only skate until you re bloody and falling down when
something is going on in that head of yours. I want to know. We d
had this conversation before. Ollie thought it was self-destructive. I
thought it was healthier than a lot of other things.
Nothing.
Tell me. Serious voice. Now I was in for it.
I umm& I kiss and tell. So did Ollie. We never left out any
sordid details. That might have been wrong, but it was what we did.
For once, I had no desire to spill. Like if I shared it wouldn t be real,
or worse, it would. Still, I had to tell her something. It s just Wes.
Did something happen when you were fishing?
No, I said too fast. Well, yes. We slept together.
What? she screamed.
Ollie, don t, all right? I just& I just don t want to talk about
it. Something in my tone must have gotten to her because she
opened then closed her mouth and nodded. I just couldn t tell Ollie.
I couldn t tell her that when I left I knew that Wes regretted it,
regretted me, and that hurt like fucking hell.
Are you okay?
I m cool. She raised an eyebrow. All right. I m terrible. I
just don t want to talk.
Fine. Uh-oh, that meant she was pissed.
Come on. It s not you. I just need to sulk.
" 102 "
SEX AND SKATEBOARDS
Alone or with me? With a question like that there was only
one answer. Like if a chick asks if she looks fat, automatic response,
no.
Alone. Wrong answer.
I love you. She ruffled my wet hair. Call me.
I will.
V'
A week later, Wes called.
Hey, Alden. Her voice cut through me, immediately turning
every cell into fire. My hands started sweating and I nearly dropped
the phone.
Hey.
I, uh, haven t seen you at Lucy s.
I ve been working a lot. It was true, but we both knew that
wasn t the reason. I d been avoiding the place. When a girl informs
you that you re having a one-night stand, it s a little rude to keep
following her around. Best to disappear for a while. Especially if
you don t have anything to offer her.
Oh. She paused. Theo is having a sleepover at his friend s
tomorrow. So? And the waves down the coast are supposed to be
killer. Doyouwannacome? she asked in a rush.
Don t you want to take Trevor or Jamie?
No. I want you. Fuck, did she have to say it like that?
Okay. Like I had a choice.
A whoosh of air came over the line, like she let out a big breath.
For real?
Yeah, what time? I was a masochist.
Come over at one. We can drop Theo off then drive down.
I ll be there.
V'
As I waited on her doorstep I remembered the last time I d rung
her doorbell. It was hard not to because my life, it seemed like, had
" 103 "
ASHLEY BARTLETT
changed then. I was praying in a way that it was about to change
again. My week of solitude had shown me one thing. What it felt
like to truly hunger for someone. What my life could be without [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]