Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

Liza

I walk to my car, dying to know if he's watching me walk away. When I get to my door, I open it and turn to finally take a peek at him. A rush of excitement races through me when I see him leaning up against his truck, just watching me. I give him a wave goodbye, and he waves back.

Opening my car door quickly, I slide inside, hoping he doesn't see this giddy schoolgirl smile on my face that I can't seem to get rid of. I don't remember the last time I was excited about a date. He just felt different than any guy I'd met back in Stockton. Maybe it was the small-town charm that was oozing off of him. I don't know. I can't put my finger on it, but there was something there, a spark that kept igniting between the two of us.

I knew my life would be different here. Back home, I had a few friends, but the directions their lives were taking wasn't where I wanted to go. This is exactly what I needed. A fresh start with good people in my life.

I drive back to my aunt and uncle's place with thoughts of what to wear for my date tonight racing through my head. I don't plan on staying at their place forever, but I'm very grateful they opened up their house to me while I get on my feet. When I arrive, I see my aunt Heidi unloading groceries from the trunk of her car, so I hop out to see if I can help.

"Here, let me get some," I say as I approach her.

"Oh, yeah. Thank you," she responds, handing me a few bags before leaning in to get more. "How was your hike?"

"Amazing," I respond probably way too enthusiastically for just a simple hike, still high from the day.

She stops what she was doing and stands to look at me. "Amazing, huh?" she asks with my same tone of happiness. "Is there something I'm missing?"

"I met a guy, and I have a date tonight." I smile big.

"Wow, only here a week, and you already have a date. Look at you!" She nudges my arm playfully, making me giggle at her reaction. "Who's the lucky guy?"

"His name is Eli. He's from Leighton River."

Aunt Heidi scrunches her face to the side as she looks up in thought. "Hmm. I don't think I know an Eli from Leighton River."

I shake my head with a laugh. "How could you? He doesn't live in Mason Creek."

She grabs the last bag and closes the trunk. "Sweetheart, Leighton River ain't much different than Mason Creek, and everyone knows everyone from that town too. It's just a little ritzier is all."

"Ritzy? In a small town? How is that even possible?" I joke.

"You didn't know TimeLand—that gaming app all the kids play—has their headquarters there?"

I shake my head with a laugh of astonishment. "No, I had no clue. I'm not a fan of playing the game anyway."

"Probably better that you don't. I find it funny they call it TimeLand because it literally wastes all of your time, staring at your phone, yet so many kids are addicted to it, but, yeah, they brought a lot of money into the town, and people have taken full advantage, for sure."

I've never been one for gaming apps on a console or on my phone, so I guess I never cared enough to know anything about TimeLand or where they're located. I used to live close to Silicon Valley, so big companies like that surrounding me is just another day.

We walk into the kitchen with the grocery bags and put everything away.

Once it looks like it's all under control, I ask, "Do you need any more help?"

She glances at the time, then grins my way. "No, sweetie. Go get ready for your date."

I smile and head off to my room.

Though we didn't set an actual time for when he'd call me, I want to wash my hair so I don't waste any time with getting in the shower. My thick, wavy hair takes forever to wash and blow-dry. Normally, I live for dry shampoo, making it so I don't have to wash it every day, but something tells me I should put in the effort for this guy.

After I finish my shower, I go through my routine of putting on face cream, product in my hair, and body lotion before I get dressed.

The idea of picking out the perfect outfit plagued my entire shower, and now that I'm staring at my closet, I'm in even more distress over what to wear. I want to come off as cute, but not that I'm trying too hard to look cute.

I grab some shorts and a T-shirt, put them on, then instantly take them off, thinking they aren't right. I reach for a summer dress, but when I see it on in the mirror, I look like I'm going to Easter brunch instead of on a date, so I slip that off as well.

As I flip through my tops one at a time, frustration overwhelms me with the selection I have staring back at me. I pull out one top, then put it back, thinking it's too business-like. I grab an old-school concert tee of Sublime, then put it back, thinking if he hates that band, it's not a good way to start off a date.

I'm way overthinking this entire outfit, but nothing feels right, so I sit back on my bed with a huff when there's a knock at my door. Sitting only in my bra and underwear, I reach for my robe and slide it on before I open it up.

Aunt Heidi stands there with a soft smile on her face as she asks, "Need any help getting ready?"

I open the door wide, welcoming her in, then walk back to my closet. "Yes, help me. I can't decide what to wear."

She walks to my closet and flips through some hangers, deciding on a white halter top. "This will look great against your darker skin tone. Not many girls are tan enough here to pull off white yet." She lays it over her own arm, proving her point, making me laugh.

Being Latina definitely has its perks when it comes to my naturally tan skin tone. It comes from my dad's side of the family, and my mom has always been jealous of how pale she is before summer starts, compared to me.

I take the shirt from her and hold it up to me while facing the mirror. I envision my curly, dark hair wrapping around my shoulders with this shirt and a cute pair of capri jeans, sandals, and small hoop earrings, then smile big.

I turn to her. "Yep, this is it. Thank you for helping me."

She returns my smile. "Happy to help. I'll be out here if you need anything else."

I spend the next hour doing my hair and makeup. When I'm done, I look in the mirror one last time, then glance at the clock. It's almost six, and I haven't heard one word from Eli. I know we didn't set a time, but nerves hit me as I realize that I might have gotten all ready for nothing.

I reach for my phone, swipe it on, and check to make sure I didn't miss a call or text, but nope. Nothing.

All of the excitement I had getting ready starts to fade away as I sit on my bed, wondering what to do now.

Eli

When I got home, I got straight to work, fixing my bike, which led to cleaning it, which led to changing out a few other parts that looked like they needed to be replaced.

I'm tightening up my brakes when my mom walks into the garage, where I have a work area set up.

"You've been out here for hours. What are you working on?"

I shrug. "All of it."

"Why am I not surprised?" She laughs with a shake of her head, knowing I can work on this kind of stuff for hours and never get bored.

She places her hand on my back, moving it from side to side in her loving way. She knows I'm not a big hugger, so this became her thing years ago.

"I was going to get dinner started. Any requests?"

My eyes pop up from what I'm doing as I remember I asked Liza out for dinner tonight.

"What time is it?" I wipe my hands, then click my phone to see it's a little past six. "Shoot. I have a date tonight."

"Oh, really?" she says in her knowing way. "Who's the lucky girl?"

"Someone I met on my ride today."

"So, she likes the outdoors then? That could be good for you."

I grin up at her. "Exactly."

My mom always says I need to find someone who can keep up with me or someone who can at least put up with the fact that I always want to be doing something and not just lie around and be lazy. I haven't dated much because not many girls around here like the things I'm into.

I pick up my phone, wondering if I should text or just call her. Realizing I should have probably done this over an hour ago, I hover my thumb over her name and look up at my mom, raising my eyebrows slightly at her.

She laughs and holds her hands, palms up. "I'm going. I'll give you your privacy."

I chuckle under my breath and wait for her to walk out of the garage before I click Liza's name.

She answers on the third ring. "Hello?"

"Hey, it's Eli. Sorry I didn't call earlier. You didn't eat already, did you?"

I hear her giggle in the phone and am surprised at how big it makes me smile.

"No, not yet. I was just about to give up on you though."

I turn around to lean on the workbench, looking at everything I've done since I got home. I was off in my own world, not thinking about anything else.

"Sorry. I was fixing my bike and lost track of the time. I can come get you in a half hour. Is that cool?"

"Yeah. That works. I'll text you my address."

"Okay. See you soon."

"Bye."

I hang up and look at my phone, seeing I have a text from Ben. Our crew always hangs out in his barn that his parents fixed up so we'd have a place to all be together.

You coming over tonight?

Sorry. Can't.

I don't bother explaining why. I never do. They know that's just me, and they don't question it—which I love.

I put my phone in my pocket and head back in the house, not bothering to clean up my mess. I know my dad will give me shit for leaving it like this, but I got a girl I have to get ready for.