First

‘Was it really so obvious to everyone but me?’ I gripe.

Maya raises a perfectly arched eyebrow.

‘And Jake,’ I quickly add.

Jake’s still reeling. ‘He’s in love with her?’

Maya sniffs. ‘Jake, you are many things, but stupid is not one of them.’ She points at him. ‘You will fix this.’

I clear my throat. ‘That could be hard. Dally’s on his way to Arizona this morning.’

Maya peers more closely at me. Her lips tighten. ‘Go home, Jake.’

‘But—’

She points at her door. I turn toward the corner of the room, closing my eyes as I pretend I can’t hear Jake pulling on his clothes. Maya’s strong, but she takes pity on him because there’s a kiss and murmured whispers. Then she laughs and urges, less fiercely this time, ‘Get out of here!’

I don’t turn around until the door of her apartment closes. She’s thrown on a robe now and gives me a sad smile. ‘So, how was your first time?’

For the second time in far too short a span of hours, I sob. But before she wraps me in a hug only a best friend can provide in a moment of utter crisis, I manage to choke out, ‘It was a freaking disaster. And I wouldn’t change any of it.’

Day 16 — Mid-Morning

It’s been ten days since graduation. Dally called me once; he left a message to let me know he made it safely to Arizona. He’s working on getting to know his uncle’s shop. Maya moved into our house with Jake, which isn’t as weird as I thought it might be. And with her there and Jake happy, a weight’s been lifted from my shoulders. I’ve got nothing tying me to California.

When I told Jake that, he freaked out, but not as much as I’d expected. He was mostly worried I’d disappear and we’d never talk again. I told him Maya wouldn’t let that happen. He apologised about Dally. He even confessed he hadn’t known how much I cared about Dally until the morning I’d caught him at Maya’s apartment. As soon as he’d left her place, he called and made peace with his best friend. It was easier to forgive him after hearing that. That’s also when Jake gave me my graduation present: new tires and enough cash to go on a long drive. His funding is the reason I’m here in Arizona.

I pull off my sunglasses and examine the shop sign more closely. This is the place. I park Old Blue and lock her door. The boxes in my trunk and backseat don’t contain much of value except for memories, but I don’t want them stolen.

The shop’s closed. A familiar motorcycle is parked near the front. I go up to the entrance and try the door. Locked. I knock and wait.

Nothing.

I knock again, louder this time. There’s a noise from the back of the shop. Stepping back doesn’t help me see who’s coming any better. Not that it matters. I jump a little when the first bay door opens.

‘I’m sorry, but we aren’t open yet,’ a familiar voice says. ‘You can try the shop two streets over if it’s an emergency.’

‘I don’t think I can,’ I reply, pulse quickening. ‘I’m very particular about who I let work on my car. Or in it.’

Silence from inside the shop. Then Dally steps out into the sunlight, blinking. He looks me over first before glancing at Old Blue, noting how she’s stuffed to the gills. A slow smile spreads across his face.

He wipes his hands on a rag with utter precision and stuffs the cloth into his jumpsuit pocket. I can only stand there, soaking in every detail as he walks toward me. He reaches out and cups my face in his hands.

‘Brown eyes—’ His kiss is deep and hot and perfect and when he pulls back, his smile is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. ‘What took you so long?’