"I don't know. Every time we do something fun I almost end up dead," I said, only half joking.
Upton laughed as we walked back into the lobby together. "Are you turning me down?"
"Not exactly," I said, swinging our hands between us. "What if we just do something chill? Lay low for a day."
Upton paused and looked at me in a suggestive way. "Lay low? I like the sound of that."
"Ha-ha," I said flatly. "You're hilarious."
He pulled me to him and gave me another quick, firm kiss. "Whatever you want," he said, looking me in the eye. "I'm there. The next few days ... they're all about you."
56
BREAKFAST DATE
I didn't sleep all night. All I could think about were Upton and his proposal. This thing with him was supposed to be just a vacation fling. Nothing more. Something fun to pass the time. Yes, I had developed feelings for him over the past week. Serious feelings. But were they the kind of feelings that could sustain a long-distance relationship? A relationship that would span a whole ocean? Separate continents? Different time zones?
And what about Josh? Yes, I knew he was with Ivy, but the last time I'd seen him he'd implied--practically stated--that he still loved me. If there was a chance that he and I could be together, did I really want to risk that?
Wait. No. I wasn't just going to sit around like a loser and wait for Josh to wake up and smell the true love. He hadn't even called me or texted me once since I'd been here. Not even on Christmas Day.
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But if I stayed with Upton, when would I ever see him? Holidays? Long weekends? I knew what my friends would say. I was only sixteen. Now was not the time to become a nun.
When my phone beeped at 6 a.m., I was so excited for a distraction I fell out of my bed reaching for it.
The text was from Sawyer, the message simple:
Shutters for bfast? 7?
Oh, I was so in. If I didn't get out of this room soon, I was going to start clawing the stucco walls, which would seriously screw up the French manicure Taylor had given me after I'd gotten out of the hospital. Maybe Sawyer would even have some advice for me. He knew Upton, and he seemed like a levelheaded guy. This could be exactly what I needed. I texted back.
Im there!
I showered quickly and dressed in a simple blue skirt and white T-shirt, bringing along my hoodie just in case. My hair was still slightly damp when I padded through the door of Shutters an hour later in my flip-flops, having borrowed one of the Langes' mopeds to get myself there. (Wakingup Noelle for her car keys was not an option. Unless I wanted to lose a limb.)
The restaurant was dotted with diners, mostly couples, but not nearly as crowded as it would be in a couple
of hours when the regulars would roll in for their breakfast. Sawyer was sitting at the corner table that Poppy, Paige, and Sienna seemed to prefer, and for once, his face wasn't bent toward a book. He was watching the door intently and stood up when I arrived. His black T-shirt was
58
as wrinkled as if he'd slept in it, and his cargo shorts hung loosely on his thin frame. As always, his blond hair was brushed forward toward his face.
"Can I help you?" the maitre d' asked.
"Just meeting a friend," I said, gesturing in Sawyer's direction.
The man smiled and I wove my way around the tables to join Sawyer. The morning breeze was oddly cool and almost crisp. I untied my sweatshirt from around my waist and pulled it on.
"Hey, Reed. Thanks for coming," Sawyer said, sitting only after I had seated myself.
"No problem. Is everything okay?" I asked.
"Yeah, fine," Sawyer said. He stuffed his hands under his arms and hunkered down in his chair, trying to escape the wind. "I just couldn't sleep."
"Me neither!" I replied, perhaps a bit too manically. For some reason, when I don't sleep, I seem to have a ton of energy. At least first thing in the morning.