be the case when she answered the door. He stood on her doorstep for a long time, contemplating what he should say, but his mind came up blank. He wished he had answered Joy’s question about his feelings for her so he could at least have something to tell Lynn; some evidence to back up the deep feelings he wanted to confess to her. He hadn’t said anything to Joy, though. The only thing he had to build on was the ice sculpture situation at Tall House when he’d stood silent and frozen between the two girls. And that wasn’t much.
He pulled his phone out of his pocket and contemplated calling Lynn instead of knocking. Would this be easier or harder face to face?
He slid the phone back into his pocket, knocked, and waited.
Lynn answered the door, and although she was wearing only her pajamas and socks, she stepped out into the cold and shut the door behind her. “I don’t even know what to say to you right now,” she said.
“It’s not what it looks like.”
“Isn’t it? Tell me something, then— when did you start dating Joy?”
“A couple weeks ago, I guess.”
“And when did you break up?”
“We were never really— it wasn’t like that.”
“Did you kiss her?”
“No.” Finally, something in the conversation that didn’t make him horrible.
“Did you want to?”
Ollie hesitated, and just like when he hesitated when talking to Joy, she interpreted that as his answer.
“I don’t know that I can trust you, Ollie. You just can’t play me like that.”
Ollie had previously thought that her smile was always present, never leaving her face, but it was nowhere to be found now. He wanted desperately to think of a way to bring it back, but it seemed too far away.
“Joy and I were starting to date, yes, and I was interested in her,” he said. “But when she went out of town for the weekend and you and I spent the weekend together— it was just— ya know.”
He knew he was horrible with words. The more words he used, the further he seemed to get from his goal. So he stopped talking, which was at least as bad.
“Yes. I think I can fill in the blanks. Joy was gone for a few days and you needed something to do. That’s where I came in. Something to pass the time. But now she’s back.”
Lynn’s eyes had been dry up to that point, but as she looked up at him, he could see the tears weren’t far from the surface. She turned away.
“My feet are cold,” she said. “I’m going inside.”
“I—” Ollie couldn’t find the right words. Come on, Ollie. Think. This could be your last chance to save this.
“Please don’t call me or come by anymore.” She shut the door behind her.
Chapter 26
Ollie trudged his way home, sloshing through his muddy thoughts. What a mess. He could feel the layers of muck packing gradually onto the soles of his soul, which got heavier with each step. Eventually, he made it back to Tall House and lifted those heavy feet up the stairs until he reached his bedroom. He found his way to the closet, where he’d stashed away his frustration all week, and pulled out the hat. Sparks was usually through his door within a minute of him putting it on his head, but this time it took nearly ten.
“Hey, I remember you, Bomber,” Sparks said.
“I know. Sorry.”
“Psh,” he scoffed. “It’s fine with me; your loss. Besides, I knew you wouldn’t come calling for a week, so I went to visit my brother.”
“You have a brother?”
“Of course I have a brother. Is that so weird?”
“Aren’t you mad at me? I mean, I kinda shut you out when you were trying to help me and I went off and… yeah… you probably already know the rest.”
“Have you ever known me to get mad, Bomber? Come on. Give me a little more credit than that.”
“So, you’ll still help me, then?”
“Of course. You’ve kept your side of the bargain working with Greg. Besides, the situation is still salvageable.”
“Are you sure you’re seeing the same situation I am? I kind of really messed up your plan.”
“I know what’s going on better than you do. Things are actually more on track than I expected them to be by now. I thought Joy would need more time. I expect everything to sort itself out tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? Why tomorrow? What’s happening then?”
“You’ll see.”
“Just tell me.”
“And ruin the surprise? No way.”
“You’re a jerk. You know that, right?”
“Oh, Bomber.