Chapter 8

“I’m going out,” I shouted to my mom before slamming the front door shut. I raced down the stairs, stopping only when I reached the gate. At the risk of being late and miss meeting Wes, I paused, taking deep breaths to calm my racing heart. This meeting could be the end of our friendship, or the beginning of something more.

Wes was pacing in the alley, kicking stray rocks across the blacktop, hands in his pockets. His diner uniform of a plain white t-shirt that looked a tad too small, and black pants, could have been a black-tie suit for as good as it looked on him.

“H-hey,” I stammered, breathless from my brisk walk.

“Hey! I wasn’t sure you’d come.” He beamed a smile at me, and I wanted to launch myself into his arms.

“I received an official summons.” I retrieved his note from my pocket and waved it at him. “How could I ignore that?”