Free Heart Waves by Danielle Sibarium

mind.
    “What hard part?”
    “Talking to each other. Honestly,” he explained.
    “I’m always honest with you,” I replied.
    He chuckled in response. “You’re never honest with me.” He took my hands in his and rubbed his thumbs over my knuckles. “I have a confession.”
    “Uh oh.” I didn’t realize I attempted to pull my hands away until he tightened his grip just a bit.
    His eyes fell from mine down to the table and he looked like a shy little boy. “Let me start by saying I’m very sorry. But it was so worth it.”
    I felt my stomach drop like it did on the ride. I went from feeling calm and tranquil to overly anxious and jittery in no time.
    “The amusement park?” I asked sensing this wasn’t at all what he meant.
    He shook his head. “No. Last night.” His eyes again fell from mine to the table and back. “I saw you on the boardwalk. I got Mike to call Grace and convince her to leave with him.” He cringed as he relayed it. “I promised to take you home.”
    “What?” I couldn’t believe what I just heard.
    He cleared his throat. “Mike called me when they left and then the whole scene between Lisa and Brandon happened.”
    My whole body stiffened. Anxiety spread like poison through my brain, straight to my heart. He set me up. And Grace went along with this. I couldn’t believe it. I no longer had anything to say to her. At least nothing nice. I yanked my hands out of his.
    “Just listen, okay?” he continued, his eyes large and soulful, his voice soft and reassuring. “I kept an eye on you the entire time.”
    Well that explains the look of amusement on his face when I mentioned my date. As well as his playful barbs meant to unnerve me.  
    I felt my face flush with embarrassment. “So I was right. You’ve been manipulating me the whole time!” I shook my head and felt my eyes burn. He was no different. No different than any of the other jerks who lied and manipulated their way to getting me alone.  “And you turned my best friend against me to help you.”
    “I really didn’t mean to manipulate you. I didn’t see it that way, but I can understand why you might.” He smiled half-heartedly. When I didn’t respond he continued, “And Grace doesn’t know anything about it. Mike’s going to kill me if she finds out, so please don’t tell her.”
    “Why would he kill you?”
    “He’s really getting off on the way she idolizes him. He’s not used to having someone hang on to his every word. We just yes him to death.” He laughed, attempting to lighten the mood. “The only reason I’m telling you is . . .”
    “You know eventually you’ll get caught,” I interrupted.
    He shook his head. “No way.” He said way too confidently, as if the idea were absurd. “I don’t want to start something based on lies. There’s only one way that could go.”
    The waiter came with our food. I didn’t feel much like eating but I felt less like talking. I moved my food around with my fork a lot. Thinking.
    “Why’d you do it?” I finally asked, still unsettled but a little curious. “Was it some kind of bet with your buddies?”
    “No!” He looked insulted that I could think such a thing. “I wanted to be alone with you. Someplace other than in your backyard.”
    “I thought we had a nice time there.”
    “We did.” He closed his eyes for a moment, his lips curling up in the corners. “A really good time. But you seem so uneasy and guarded.”
    “So I’m cautious. What’s wrong with that?”
    He looked pensive, as though he were weighing his words. “That’s not you.”
    “And you know that how, exactly?”
    “I saw a glimpse of you when we first met,” he smiled at the memory and his eyes lit up, “and when you punched the guy in the face, you didn’t have time to be cautious. And today you were absolutely radiant when you decided to let go and jump right in.”
    “Is that so?”
    “ Mmm .” A quiet calm came upon him. “I’ve never seen anyone more