Girl Out of Water(37)

“Hey there.” He stands next to me, shoulder to shoulder, so that we can watch Austin and the twins from a distance. Though the air is cool today, my skin flushes with warmth when I glance up at Lincoln.

“Hi.” My right foot rests on my skateboard, pushing it back and forth across the pavement, an idle movement, like how I sometimes play with the zipper on my wet suit, sliding it down a few inches and then back up.

“You’re here early,” Lincoln says.

I nod. “I am.”

“Is it because I asked you to come?”

I clear my throat, ignoring the heat flushing my cheeks. “It’s a nice day,” I say.

He leans in close, a teasing flicker in his eyes. “It’s not that you couldn’t wait to see my adorable dimple?”

Of course he’s aware of his dimple and its effect on those attracted to males. How could he not be? That dimple is like a goddamn superpower. And yet I don’t want to fuel his already fired-up ego, so I tease, “Dimple or deformity?”

As soon as the word leaves my lips, the blood drains from my face.

Holy fuck.

I just said deformity to a guy with one arm. I am officially the most awful—no, most cruel—human being on the planet. “Oh—fuck…I mean, shit…I mean, sorry…” I stumble for an apology, but before I can form a string of coherent words, Lincoln smiles at me, like really smiles, like he’s entertained by my repulsive comment.

“You should see your face right now,” he says. “Very adorable. Possibly even more adorable than my dimple.”

“Lincoln—” In my moment of embarrassment, I realize this is the first time I’ve ever said his name and how much I like the feel of those two syllables passing through my lips, “I am so sorry. Seriously. That was awful and—”

He places his hand on my shoulder. The touch drains some of my panic, redirecting my focus toward the feeling of those smooth calluses on my bare skin. “Dude, seriously, it’s okay. The only uncomfortable thing you’re doing right now is making it a thing. I know that’s not what you meant, but yeah, you know, next time maybe—”

“Speak before I think?” I smack my head. “Oh god, I mean, think before I speak.”

He grins. “Exactly.” His hand lingers for a second longer, then drops away. I watch as his long fingers curl by his side, relaxed yet controlled. “And you know, if you’re really torn up about it, you can make it up to me.”

I narrow my eyes. “Make it up to you how?”

“Go on an adventure with me.”

“An adventure? Here?” I ask. “Is that even possible?” Besides the skate park, all I’ve seen of Nebraska are mini-malls, fields of dry grass, and suburb after suburb. And of course, the hospital. Not exactly a hot spot for a good time.

“Oh, most definitely,” Lincoln says. “As someone who has lived in his fair share of these United States, I can attest adventure can be found anywhere.”

Lincoln is only a year older than me. How many places has he lived? “As promising as that sounds,” I respond, “I can’t exactly leave my cousins alone at the park.”

“Ah, but that’s where my true genius comes in. You have a twelve-year-old cousin, and I have a twelve-year-old brother. Put them together, and I think we’re looking at a fine set of babysitters.”

Part of me knows he’s right. But the other part of me doesn’t want to leave Emery alone when, even if she’s not saying it, she might need me around. So I say, “I don’t doubt Emery and Austin’s abilities, but I can see the headlines now: beautiful park destroyed by twin boys due to ridiculously irresponsible older cousin. You were the one who called them the disastrous duo.”

“Come on, Anise. Think about it. Also, Austin is first aid certified.”

“He is?” I bite my lip.

“And he babysits all the time—”

“He does?” An image of goth-punk Austin playing Monopoly Junior with two J. Crew toddlers pops into my head.

“You deserve a little fun,” Lincoln continues. “Especially after getting your ass kicked yesterday.”

“Your powers of persuasion are miraculous.”

“I’d like to think so.” Lincoln smiles that cocky-ass smile. The thing is, he really is persuasive. All my days are starting to meld into cousins, park, park, cousins, and mix in a little hospital time for seasoning. I could use a break from the routine, do something for me. And the thought of doing something with Lincoln isn’t exactly unappealing. “Come on,” Lincoln continues. “At least ask Emery and see if she minds. I know Austin will mostly handle the boys. He sometimes likes when I’m not here so he can be the older, cool kid.”

I stall, pushing my skateboard back and forth with one foot and contemplating my options: I can stay here all morning tiptoeing around Emery in the slight chance she wants to open up to me and making sure the twins don’t destroy property or I can go on an adventure with Lincoln.

And Lincoln’s dimple.

“Okay. If Emery agrees to it, then okay.”

? ? ?

Emery agrees, which more worries than relieves me. She’d rather take care of her brothers than hang out with her friends? Two more days. I’ll give her two days to tell me what happened until I give her the ultimatum: tell me or I’m telling your mom.