Page 38 of Shelter
“Yeah,” I said, opening the door. “We were.”
* * *
“I’m telling you,Alberta, he is justSO. ANNOYING. Ugh!”I smacked her lavender and periwinkle bedspread with my open palm. We both lay on our backs, staring up at her muraled ceiling. She’d painted it as though her room was a deserted island, overlooking the open ocean as evening fell. A short strip of sand with a few scurrying hermit crabs and a fallen coconut made up the beach before gentle waves crashed ashore. It was easy to get lost in the colors of the sunset on the rippling water.
“Yeah, but why do you care?” Alberta asked, crossing one knee over the other and letting her bare foot bounce.
“Because he’sannoying.”I shrugged as though this were obvious. “He pisses me off. He tries to make me feel stupid. And he’s mean. And nosey. And judgy. And I just hate him so much!”
Alberta turned to face me. “Butwhydo you hate him? I mean, why do you feel anything?” she pressed. “Why not just ignore him? It wouldn’t matter what he did or said if you didn’t care.”
I screwed up my face and looked at her like she was crazy. “Of course I care.”
She blinked her blue eyes at me. “Why?”
My mouth opened, and I shook my head from left to right, expecting the explanation to come out, but nothing did. WhydidI care?
Alberta rolled onto her side and propped her cheek onto her fist. “You know my cousin, Marty?” she asked.
Marty was Alberta’s family on her mother’s side. He was a year younger than us. I nodded. “Sure. His family comes over all the time.”
Alberta nodded back. “Well, what if Marty teased you about the books you read or said you were dumb?”
“Marty?”I asked, pulling a face. Alberta’s cousin was nice and all, but he was… well…a nerd.
“Yep, Marty.” Then Alberta frowned. “He doesn’t think that, by the way. I actually think he has a little crush on you.”
“Marty?”I echoed. My brow rose at this unwelcome news. “Don’t even say that.”
A giggle escaped her lips.
“I mean, no offense, but Marty’s…” I couldn’t finish.
Alberta’s gaze on me sharpened. “Marty’s what?”
I shook my head and turned back to her seaside ceiling. “Marty’s not my type.”
The bed bounced as she snorted.
“What’s so funny?” I asked, eyeing her profile.
She brought her twinkling blue eyes to mine. “You don’t care what Marty thinks about you because he’s not your type,” she said, fighting a grin. “Maybe that means Cole Whitehurst is.”
My eyes flew open wide. “Hell, no!” I shouted.
“You should see your face!” She rolled onto her back, cackling.
I pushed myself up to sitting and eyed her in disbelief. “How long have you known me? I can’t believe you said that.” But even as I bawled her out, I felt my cheeks burn.
“Oh, come on,” Alberta said, sitting up beside me. “You have to admit he’s gorgeous.”
“Alberta!”
She covered her mouth with her hands, her shoulders heaving with laughter. “Your face issored.” She giggled while I scowled, and then her eyes widened. “Oh my God, Elise…”
“What?” I asked, frowning.
“I think you like him.”
