Lanz and I grabbed our schoolbags and stepped outside. The evening had cooled to the perfect temperature—warm but not hot, with a salt-infused breeze blowing in from the ocean.
“So … are you heading to the beach?” I asked Lanz. “Tilly texted me. She and Andres are down by the cove surfing.”
“What are you doing?” Lanz asked me.
“I need to go home and rest my feet,” I said. “Pretty fun, huh?”
“Well, it can be fun,” Lanz argued, his eyes sparkling. “Do you mind if I join you? I could even help.”
“Really?” I asked, mystified but too happy to say no.
Twenty minutes later, Lanz set a large, steaming bowl at my feet. He’d taken over our kitchen, rummaging through cabinets until he found a bowl and the salt, and then he’d made me sit at the table while he prepared a warm salt bath.
“It just needs one more thing,” he said, digging through his messenger bag. He produced a Ziploc bag full of tiny purple seeds. “Lavender. I had some left over from the ice cream I made yesterday.” He poured the lavender into his hand, then crushed it between his palms, sprinkling it into the bowl. “It will help with the soreness.”
“You’re an expert,” I teased.
He smiled. “My mom was a professional dancer. My father used to do this for her when her feet were sore. Back when things were still good between them.”
I blushed. The fact that his dad had done this for his mom imbued the whole thing with a sort of romantic undertone. Then I blushed all over again, telling myself that I was reading too much into a simple act of kindness.
The sweet smell of lavender drifted over me. I set my bare feet ever so gently into the warm water. Then I leaned back in the chair, every muscle unwinding.
Lanz sat in the chair beside me. “You should be kinder to yourself,” he said. “You push and push, without rest.”
“I have to.” My voice sounded so relaxed that I couldn’t even muster a legitimately argumentative tone.
“Not all the time.” He tilted his head at me.
“I guess not,” I relinquished. “Lanz?” My heart hammered with what I knew I wanted to say. “That story you told me today? I’m not Porcini. Hanging out with my friends, hanging out with you … is enough.”
He glanced at me, a slow smile spanning his face. “Thank you.” Two burgundy spots appeared on the apples of his cheeks, and my pulse began racing. I had the sense that something huge was about to happen. “I’m glad we’re friends now, too. It took long enough, but it happened.” He grinned, but this time there was a nervous vibe between us that made the joking miss the mark. “But, Mal, I think—”
My cell phone buzzed. I pulled it from my back pocket to see a text from Ethan.
I blinked, reality settling over me full force. Ethan. I was going to the carnival with Ethan. Which was good. No … great! But … I was sitting alone in my kitchen with Lanz. Which was … What was it? What was this? And what had he been about to say to me?
“What is it?” Lanz asked me.
“Oh.” I laughed awkwardly. “Just a text from Ethan. I told him I could go to the carnival. Mom decided to let me go.”
Lanz nodded. “I hoped she would.”
“Wait … what?”
He shrugged. “I might have suggested that you deserved a break. One time, or … maybe ten times. That’s all.”
I laughed. “I can’t believe it. So I suppose I should be thanking you for that, too!” I rolled my eyes, trying to make it seem like all these thank-yous were getting old.
“No thanks needed. Really, I was being selfish.” His eyes locked on mine. “You would have been missed.”
I swallowed, not knowing where to look. He didn’t mean he’d miss me. He couldn’t mean that. Only … why did it sound like he did?
“Not that much,” I said quickly. “Ethan’s used to not having me go. And Tilly and Andres will be glued to each other all night long.” Then I stiffened, remembering. “And … you’re going with Eve Hunter, right?”
Lanz nodded with an air of surprise, as if he’d only just remembered. “Sì. I don’t know anything about her, but Ethan has many nice things to say.”
“He does?” I asked.
“He says she’s clever, and funny. And … how did he say it? Oh yes. He said she has an adorable laugh.”
“Adorable,” I repeated. “Huh.” Had Ethan ever called me adorable? I thought back. He’d called me driven and single-minded, both of which I’d taken as great compliments. But adorable? Nope. What qualities did Ethan find adorable, and why didn’t I know what they were? “Well, if she’s that adorable, I’ll bet you’ll have a great time with her.” I meant it kindly, but it came out monotone.
Lanz shrugged. “It’s a new experience, and I’ll be with friends. This will make it a great time.” He gestured to my phone. “You should text Ethan. He’ll want to hear from you.”
I nodded. “Yeah.” Disappointment washed over me. I needed to get back to Ethan, but I wasn’t ready for Lanz to leave. I couldn’t ask him to stay, though. That would be too weird. And maybe even wrong?
Lanz stood to leave, and I stood, too, almost tipping the bowl of water. “Lanz, wait! You were going to tell me something before. What was it?”
He met my gaze and smiled. It wasn’t his usual carefree smile, but one that was serious. “Only that … I thank you for your help with my English. And that I admire your …” He paused to contemplate the right word. “Ambition. It impresses me.”
“Don’t be impressed,” I said. “If I get a part in Cinderella, then that will be something.”
His smile shifted from serious to a little sad. “My mother used to say things like that. ‘If I can dance in a company, then that will
