Life in the No-Dating Zone (11 page)

Kids’ voices and the occasional squeal came from a nearby backyard. Somewhere in the distance, a lawn mower started. Jack put his foot on top of the ball and tumbled into the grass. He got up and tried again.

“Doesn’t look like he has a future as a soccer player,” I said.

“Pfftt. He’s fifteen months old. Give him a break.”

“They all start that young. He should be running drills already.”

“Right.” She looked at me sideways through her semi-darkened glasses. “Speaking of starting young, you need to be thinking about coming up with a grand gesture.”

“A what?”

“Something big, something romantic. Something that’ll let Lindsey know you’re serious about liking her.”

“What does that have to do with starting young?”

“Nothing. I just remembered it.”

Why did I suddenly want to reach over and pull her hair? I felt like I was in fifth grade, trying to get the attention of a girl I liked.
A girl I liked.
Yes, Claire was a girl. Yes, I liked her. But not like I liked Lindsey. Right?
Focus, Gray.

“So a grand gesture,” I said. “Would that be like dressing up as the Phantom?”

Her whole face lit up like someone had thrown the floodlight switch at a stadium. “That would be awesome! Did you watch the movie?”

“Yeah.”

“And?”

“It’s kind of weird.”

Claire laughed. “That’s what makes it so good. Let’s see. If not the Phantom, you could do a Romeo thing and talk to her outside her window at night. Pretend she’s on a balcony.”

“Seriously? Girls like that?”

Jack toddled over and sat on her shins. She grunted and slid him off to sit between us. He patted my leg. “Or if you’re worried about what to say,” she continued as though I hadn’t said anything, “I could do the Cyrano de Bergerac thing and hide, then whisper to you so you know what to say.”

She’d lost me. “What’re you talking about?”

“You’ve never read
Cyrano
? It’s a play.”

“No.”

“Or seen the movie
Roxanne
?”

“Uh, maybe. I don’t remember.”

Jack clambered to his feet. “Let’s go to the slide, sweetie,” Claire said, getting up and taking his hand. She gazed down at me. “In the play, Cyrano tells this guy what to say—” Jack tugged her forward. “Never mind,” she said over her shoulder. “All you need to know is if you want to stand outside her window at night and say romantic things, I can be there to help.”

Why were girls so complicated? I got up. “Sounds like a bad idea to me.”

“Me being there? Or doing it?”

“Any of it.” I followed them to the toddler slide where Claire held Jack’s hands as he slid down. “Doesn’t sound like something I could do.”

“Well, what
could
you do?”

Jack ran around and climbed up the two steps of the slide. “I don’t know. Take her out to dinner or something? ‘Course that couldn’t happen until she and Adam were through.”

“Gray. You’ve got to think big. We’re talking about something that’ll impress her, not something just anybody could do.”

Jack waved a hand. “A! A!”

I took his hands and helped him down the slide. “Why doesn’t he go down by himself?” I asked while the kid ran around to climb up again.

“Shh,” Claire said.
He’s afraid
, she mouthed.

“A! A!”

Fear, yeah. “It’s okay, buddy,” I muttered, “I get it.”

“What?” Claire asked.

“Nothing. C’mon, let’s swing him up when he hits the ground.”

We each took a little pudgy hand, helped Jack slide, then lifted him up. He squealed. But it was a happy sound. A door shut behind us. We turned as a unit, still swinging Jack back and forth.

“Hey!” It was Lindsey, all gleaming reddish-brown hair and short shorts.

Adrenaline rushed through me. I wished I were racing my bike down the road. Or jogging. Anything to not be standing there unprepared.

She grinned as she came toward us. “Don’t y’all just look like a cute little family.”

Twenty

Claire

A family? I wanted to jump away from Gray, but we both had ahold of Jack and dropping him was not ideal. “Hey! Whatcha doing?” I called to Lindsey, more than a little bit peeved. Why was everyone just dropping by today? Hadn’t they heard of text messages?

She strolled closer, looking like every guy’s dream, whereas I looked like I’d spent all morning playing with a baby. My lavender T-shirt had big dark drool splotches on it and I had on old gray sweatpants I’d cut off at the knees to make shorts.

“You left your swimsuit at my house last night,” Lindsey said.

“I did? How weird. I didn’t even miss it.”

Jack wriggled, so I lowered him to the ground. Thank goodness Gray was with it enough to do the same. We let go of Jack’s hands and he toddled toward a Frisbee on the grass.

Lindsey handed over my bright yellow bikini, which, for some absurd reason, I wanted to shove into my shorts pocket. Like I was trying to hide my underwear. But I didn’t. There was no way it would fit. Instead, I scrunched it up in a ball in one hand.

Lindsey put a hand on her hip. “Thank you very much, Lindsey, I’ve been looking for that everywhere.”

Good. A joke. I lightly smacked my forehead. “Oh my gosh. Thank you
so
much. I’ve been frantic. I had no idea what happened to it.”

We laughed and Gray shook his head at us.

“So what’s up, Gray?” Lindsey asked.

“Nothing much,” he said, looking only mildly panicked. Good for him. “We’ve been talking about breakfast tomorrow.”

“So you’ll be there? Awesome. You’ll get to see how grumpy Claire is first thing in the morning.”

“No grumpier than you are,” I said.

“Wait,” Gray said. “What time are we meeting?”

“Not too early,” I said.

Lindsey laughed. “Right. Like seven thirty isn’t early.”

Gray gaped. “What!”

I pushed Lindsey’s shoulder. “Quit. She’s joking. We’re not meeting until ten.”

“Oh, good.”

Jack reappeared and grabbed Gray around the knee. “Up!”

Gray swung him up into his arms, making the baby squeal.

Lindsey raised an eyebrow. “How very domestic of you.”

Gray’s tanned face darkened as though he was blushing, but I couldn’t be sure. Guess I’d better help him out. “Let’s go in. Y’all want something to drink?”

“No, thanks,” Lindsey said. “I have to pick up the dry cleaning for mommy dearest.”

“I need to go, too,” Gray said.

We left Jack—and my bikini—with my mom in the kitchen, then headed out front. I blinked against the bright sunshine, hoping they’d both leave quickly. What with the awkwardness I felt around Gray and the sudden appearance of Lindsey, I just wanted to hide in my room and read. Anything to get my mind off the two of them.

A familiar-looking dark blue car drove slowly past Lindsey’s SUV and Gray’s Toyota, then disappeared around the curve in the street. Where had I seen it before? I couldn’t remember.

We stepped away from the front stoop and Lindsey faced Gray. “So, you still working at the movie theater?”

Caution clouded his expression. “Yeah, why?”

She placed a hand on his arm. “You think you could get us free tickets sometime?”

A soft chuckle came out. “Maybe.”

I probably should have been watching to see if Gray needed any conversational help, but just then the dark blue car came from the other direction. What the heck? I couldn’t tell who was driving, but long blond hair shone through the window. And there was someone in the passenger seat.

“Earth to Claire,” Lindsey said. “What’s the matter?”

I gave my head a small shake. “That’s the second time that car has driven by.”

Lindsey swung around in time to see the car race up the street. “Looks like Amy Acton’s car.”

Gray and I stared at each other. He mouthed something I didn’t get, and then Lindsey turned back. “How do you know?” I asked.

Her lips twisted. “The little twit is friends with Adam. She’s always hated me because he asked me out.”

“I didn’t know they were friends.”

“Yup. But he doesn’t spend much time with her anymore. Ergo, she hates me.”

“Did you see how many people were in the car?” Gray asked.

“Two, I think.”

Gray gave me an anxious look, which I translated as,
They’re really following me! What are we going to do now?

But I didn’t have an answer, so I lifted my shoulders in the tiniest shrug possible.

Lindsey looked from one of us to the other and back again. “Okay, what’s all this telepathy between you two? Tell Aunt Lindsey what’s going on.”

“It’s nothing,” Gray said.

“C’mon. You can’t fool me. Y’all were communica—” A shrewd look passed over her face. “Wait a second. Is Amy Acton your stalker?”

“No!” Gray and I said at the same time.

“How stupid do you think I am?”

“Really, Lindsey,” I said. “She’s not.”

“Then who is?”

This time Gray and I stayed silent. It was getting creepy how we kept responding the same way. But being quiet didn’t slow Lindsey down one bit.

“Was it the other person in the car?”

“I couldn’t tell who that was,” I said.

“But you think you know.”

I opened my mouth, but Gray surprised me by answering. “Nyssa Staphos. They go everywhere together.”

“Really?” Lindsey smiled. Hugely. “So, she’s stalking you, huh?”

Gray stared at the sidewalk. “I … she keeps showing up.”

“Uh-huh. Sounds like a stalker. Do you like her?”

“She’s nice, I guess.”

“I mean, do you want to go out with her?”

“No.”

“Perfect! Then Claire and I will help get rid of her.” She was practically rubbing her hands together.

“Lindsey,” I said, in a warning tone. “What’re you planning?”

“Nothing yet. But I love a good stalker sabotage, don’t you?”

Gray laughed. “Depends on what that means.”

Lindsey considered us. “Hmm. Maybe she could catch you and Claire in a clinch.”

Gray started coughing. I couldn’t tell if he was covering a laugh or choking over the idea of hugging me.

“Lindsey, stop,” I said. “You’re embarrassing Gray.” And me.

She gave me a knowing look. “I think I’m embarrass—”

“Is that them again?” Gray said, staring at the street.

The dark blue car approached.

“Quick,” Lindsey said. “Hug.”

I refused to look at Gray, but I could practically feel the
awkward
waves rolling off of him. When we just stared at her, Lindsey grabbed her head dramatically. “Agh! Why do I have to do everything?” She closed in on Gray and slid her hands behind his neck. A dark red color crawled up his cheeks. “Put your arms around me, quick.”
 

Twenty-One

Claire

Gray settled his hands on Lindsey’s sides as though he was afraid he’d catch on fire.
He’d better not faint.

“They still there, Claire?” Lindsey asked.

“Yup. Slowing down too.”

Lindsey let out a fake laugh, then turned them so their sides were to the street. Guess she figured Gray’s stunned expression would give them away. “C’mon, loosen up,” she said. “This isn’t a middle school dance.”

“What do you want me to do?” he asked, sounding kind of like Mickey Mouse.

“Pull me closer.”

He did, sliding his hands to her back. I couldn’t watch anymore. I ripped a leaf off one of my mom’s geraniums and rubbed it between my fingers. Its citrusy scent was usually calming, but not right now. Why was their hug bothering me? It’s what I wanted, wasn’t it? More importantly, it’s what Gray wanted. He wasn’t interested in me. And I needed to not be interested in him. Maybe I could just sneak into the house while they weren’t looking.

“Still watching?” Lindsey asked.

At first I thought she meant me, which seemed like a really weird question. But then I realized she was talking about the people in the car. “Yeah. They’re practically parking in the middle of the street.”

“Good,” Lindsey said. “On my signal, look right at them and wave.”

“All right.” I looked back at her and Gray. I couldn’t stop myself. It was like a huge magnet had turned my head toward them. I
had
to see what she was going to do.

Lindsey gave Gray a sweet smile, then stroked his cheek. “Now.”

I made a show of looking like I’d just noticed the car in the street. Then smiled and waved enthusiastically. Tires squealed as the car sped away.

Lindsey broke away from Gray, laughing. “Perfect! Absolutely perfect! That’ll teach them to stalk you.”

Gray ran a hand through his hair, causing a couple of white-blond pieces to stick out. “Thanks, I think.” He sounded more like himself.

Lindsey smiled. “You did great. Really. Let us know if they bother you anymore. We can come up with something even more elaborate.”

Who was this “we” she was talking about? She could leave me out of it.

She frowned a little. “I just wish y’all had been the ones hugging. Now they’re going to wonder what’s up with me and Adam.”

Now
there
were two subjects I didn’t want to get into. “Oh, hey,” I said, lifting my phone to look at the time, “I don’t mean to rush y’all, but I have to get ready to go babysit.”

“No problem,” Gray said, “I need to get going.”

“Me too,” Lindsey said, backing up. “Talk to y’all later.”

“Bye!” I said, then ducked into the house and shut the door. I dashed over to the window in the living room and peeked around the curtain. Lindsey and Gray were walking to their cars. Not slowly—not like they wanted to linger and talk some more. They paused, said something, then waved and got into their cars.

How anticlimactic. I was expecting at least a little more flirting and forearm touching. Why would Gray waste such a great opportunity?

I hadn’t even left the living room when Lindsey’s call came in. I headed upstairs so my mom couldn’t overhear me. “Yeah?”

“If that guy likes me, I’m a math whiz!” she said.