He laughed and leaned his forehead against the chains, digging his toe into the dirt below him and pushing himself back and forth.
“Have I always been an asshole to you?” he asked.
“You remember playing together when we were younger, don’t you?”
“Well, yeah, but I mean after that.”
I let my toes drag in the sand as I swung. “Yeah, you have.”
He reached over and grabbed my hand, once again linking our fingers together and squeezing.
“I haven’t made it easy for you, have I?”
“No,” I said, sitting up straight and squaring my shoulders. “But I’ve learned to deal with it as best I can.”
“You shouldn’t have to go through life like that.”
“I won’t have to in a few more months. I’ll be off to college and starting over. It’ll be different.”
“Where are you going?”
“NYU.”
“I applied there.”
“Have you heard anything back yet?”
He looked away, toeing the dirt a little more forcefully.
“Not yet.”
“What would you go for?”
“Journalism.”
“You want to be a writer?” I asked.
“I’d love to be some kind of columnist or feature writer for the New York Times.”
“That would be really cool.”
“What are you going for?”
“Child psychology.”
“You’d be good at that.”
I smiled and ducked my head, swinging a little more forcefully and pulling him with me. He laughed and picked up the pace until we were both forced to let go for fear we’d pull the other one completely off the swing. Finally, we both slowed down, dragging our feet in the sand as we came to a stop.
“Wow! You guys went high!”
It was the kids we’d seen running around before, only now they were holding hands and staring up at us with an expression close to awe. I laughed and hopped off the swing. There was a woman with fire-engine red hair, watching closely. I pointed to the little girl and then to the swing, indicating I wanted to push her on it, and she nodded, smiling at me.
“Come on,” I said to her, holding out my hand.
She grabbed my hand and abandoned the little boy, who was pouting and crossing his arms over his chest. I looked at Evan, and he jumped up, holding out his hand to the little boy, who smiled, bounced over to Evan, and grabbed his hand as well. I laughed and walked the short steps to the swing I’d just abandoned, picking the girl up to place her on the swing.
“Hold on tight, okay?”
She clapped enthusiastically and wound her little hands as far around the chains as possible, and I smiled as I walked behind her and placed my hands on her shoulders. I pushed her, and she squealed, kicking her legs out in front of her. I looked over to find Evan doing the same with the boy, who hadn’t quite gotten the hang of pumping his legs to go faster. He had the basic idea, but there was no rhythm, and he was going too fast for it to make much of a difference.
“What’s your name?” the little girl asked, tilting her head back to look up at me.
“Look straight ahead, sweetie, or you’ll fall backwards,” I instructed, placing my hands on her back and pushing her again. “My name’s Anna. What’s yours?”
“Ella. That’s Hunter.” She pointed to the little boy Evan was pushing before grabbing the chain again. “He’s my boyfriend.”
“Oh really?”
I stifled a laugh and saw Evan’s sly smile, the little boy making gagging noises.
“Yep! Is that guy yours? He has pretty hair.”
My eyes widened, and I looked back down at the top of her head, clearing my throat nervously and pushing her again.
“We’re just friends, sweetie.”
“Oh. Well . . . friends are good.”
“Yes, friends are very good.”
“Ella! Hunter! Come on! It’s time to go!”
I grabbed the chains and stopped the swing as she jumped off.
“Thanks, Anna! Bye!”
“Yeah, bye!” Hunter yelled as he chased after Ella.
I looked over at Evan to find him kicking the sand, and I plopped back down into my swing and pushed myself back and forth. He slowly did the same, staring straight ahead, as he slowly swung back and forth.
“You okay?” I asked, dragging the toe of my sneakers in the dirt and looking at him.
“Yeah.” He smiled at me. “I’m just thinking.”
“Anything you’re willing to share?”
“You’re good with kids, you know?”
Looking down at my lap, I said, “Thanks. I love kids.”
“I never really thought that I wanted kids.”
“No?”
He stared across the park as he pushed himself off the ground and started swinging in earnest. “Too much responsibility . . . not being able to give them back to their parents when they start crying and all.” He chuckled, looking over at me. “But maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all.”
“You’ve just gotta find the right person.” I shrugged and looked away, staring down at my feet as I pushed myself back. “Anything is possible then.”
“You’re a romantic, huh?”
“Maybe.” I glanced at him and said, “Have to have something to believe in, right?”
He abruptly stopped swinging; I followed suit as he stood stiffly and walked behind me. I tensed, closed my eyes tightly, and waited for the worst to happen. His arms slid around my shoulders before I felt his breath on my ear as he bent down. I relaxed, opening my eyes and cautiously leaning back into him.
“I hope one day that you’ll trust me, Anna,” he whispered into my ear, his arms tightening around my shoulders. “I know it’s not easy.”
“I am trying.”
“I know. So am I.”
“I know that, too.”
He kissed my cheek before standing, and I blushed, blinking at my feet before I felt his hands on my back, slowly pushing me forward.
“Tell me something.”
“Like what?”
I crossed my ankles as he continued to push me.
“Ever snuck out before?”
“No,” I snorted. “You?”
“All the time.”
“Rebel.”
“Maybe. Ever gotten drunk?”
“Once with Christina and Vince at her house when we were in ninth grade.”
“Now who’s the rebel?”
“Still you,” I said, trying to hide the smile as he pushed me a little higher. “Ever not been able to talk your way out of something?”
“Only with my
