He stayed until they hurt less.
When my first boyfriend dumped me three weeks before junior homecoming, Ethan brought chocolate ice cream.
We sat on my porch for ten minutes in silence.
Then he said:
“I told you he was an idiot.”
I looked at him.
“No, you didn’t.”
“I thought it.”
“That does not count.”
“It should.”
I laughed so hard I nearly choked.
SO WHEN SENIOR PROM CAME AROUND, I ALREADY KNEW WHO I WANTED TO GO WITH
Apparently—
Ethan wasn’t as certain.
One afternoon at Willowcrest High School, he found me beside my locker.
“Sophie.”
“Yes?”
“Do you remember first grade?”
I pretended to think.
“No.”
His face fell.
“Seriously?”
I laughed.
“Ethan, I’m kidding.”
“That wasn’t funny.”
“It was a little funny.”
Then he held out his pinkie.
And suddenly—
I remembered everything.
Raisins.
Dinosaurs.
That cruel boy.
One silly promise.
I hooked my pinkie around his.
“Prom?”
He nodded.
“Prom.”
Then grinned.
“I already bought the bow tie.”
“When?”
“November.”
I stared.
