flowers.
“Okay. I like pie.”
She really liked this field of flowers.
The uneven ground felt bumpy beneath her head, her shoulder blades, the edges of her hips, on down to her calves and heels. The leaves and blossoms tickled against the places where her skin peeked out from beneath her clothes. The sun felt warm and the breeze blew cool. Her body was aware of his beside her. Solid. Close, but not touching. Not crossing any lines or breaking any rules. He was her friend.
The deliberate concentration of not touching, not reaching out and taking his hand, not measuring the length of her legs against his, not not not, made her feel inexplicably trembly and quivery. Within all the not, she felt the unsettled heat of wanting to. She might spontaneously combust. Or turn into molten lava. If she melted into the flowers, she’d make a long puddle. But eventually she’d cool and turn to stone.
Here and now, she breathed in the heat and the buzz and hum of them, together.
Twenty-Three
Saturday morning, Mom met her at the foot of the stairs, blocking the way.
“I spoke with the NDT coach yesterday.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Ria sat on the stair, hoping Mom would sit beside her. When she didn’t, Ria scooted up a stair so their eyes would be even.
“I’m telling you now. Benny suggested I call, and it’s a good thing I did. They have a training trip in Florida next month. Not everyone is invited to travel, but to be considered you need to join their team. Officially.”
“Officially.”
“Right. You signed the commitment letter, but we need to move forward with plans.”
“Officially.” It was such a serious word, but it sounded so silly, too. Oh-fish-ally, oh-fish-silly, ohohoh. Officially seriously silly.
“Why are you hesitating, Ria?”
“Officially?”
“I know it must be scary to think of working with new coaches. Especially after that run-in with the terrible coach in LA.”
“She didn’t do anything wrong.”
“She never should have yelled at you.” Mom grabbed Ria’s hand and squeezed. “You have to remember that Benny will be there. He’ll make sure everything goes right.”
“Officially.”
“Why do you keep saying that?” Mom was getting annoyed. “I wish you’d talk to me. You always make me guess what’s wrong. I can’t help if I don’t know what’s bothering you.”
“You,” said Ria. “Officially, it’s you bothering me. Right now, right here.”
“Ria!”
Apparently, but probably unofficially, that was the end of Mom’s point. At least she moved out of the way when Ria stood, so she could finally make it downstairs.
Needing to escape, she ran all the way to Cotton’s house. She was so intent on getting there she forgot to hate running on the way. She arrived, sweaty and mussed.
“Come in,” he greeted her. “Leo’s here. You’re here. We can go now.”
“And you, Cotton.”
He turned his head and looked at her from the side.
“You’re here, too.”
“Of course I’m here.” He broke into his brilliant grin.
Leo didn’t look nearly as giddy and happy as Cotton. He wasn’t clearly rude to Ria. Not mean, but not nice, either. She wasn’t sure his obvious annoyance was personally directed at her, or if that was simply his mood.
Flutie followed them out to the shed, stood with her socks in the damp grass. Her hair was as thick and unruly as Cotton’s, but lighter and longer. “Can I go too?”
“No! That would not be satisfactory. You might get hurt.”
“Oh, come on. I want to see the cave.”
“I think it would be good,” said Leo. “We can take care of her.”
“No. Absolutely no. We can’t take care of people. We’re going into an unknown area.”
“But you’re letting Ria go,” whined Flutie.
“Ria is tough,” Cotton said, like it was a fact. “She’s strong and brave. You are not. You can’t come.”
After Flutie headed toward the back door, Cotton beamed, like he had no idea he’d caused the scowl on his sister’s face.
“I am very much looking forward to our exploration of the new chamber today.”
“Maybe next time we could bring Flutie,” said Leo.
“No. We’re wasting time talking about it.”
“I’m ready when you are,” said Ria, hoping to clear the awkward air.
The boys each wore a rope wrapped crosswise over his chest. Leo wore a beanie under his helmet.
Inside the cave, the three of them stayed close to silent. All their energy went into moving forward. No pausing for breaks or taking time to marvel. They wanted to hurry back to the newly found chamber.
The slippery hill was drier this time, or maybe she was ready for it. Even now that she