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cracking me up. We ’re not in eighth grade anymore. I t’s not like having a boyfriend should be any big deal.
    “No.” She shakes her head. “We’re not that way. He doesn’t like me like that.”
    Her mom laughs. “I assume we’ re talking about Kent, and he totally does like you that way.”
    Amber’s cheeks redden further.
    My phone buzzes in my pocket.
    DAVID: EMER, CALL NOW.
    I laugh. David has yet to have an emergency worthy moment.
    “Just a sec. A friend from home.” I step outside, grabbing my coat on the way. This is good. David will be a good slap in the face.
    He answers the phone with, “Dude, you will not believe what happened.”
    “Lay it on me.” I sit on the captain’s chair on the back deck , behind the big steering wheel and underneath a navy blue canvas roof.
    “My mom’s show got cancelled, and I think we’ll be moving to LA.” There’s a solemn tone on his words.
    I laugh. “So?”
    “Did you hear me? I won’t be a New York guy anymore! I don’t want to be one of those ridiculous sunglass wearing, cheap BMW driving pricks!”
    “Then don’t be.” I shake my head. “This is seriously your emergency?”
    “Yeah!”
    “David, I’m living on a boat , in Seattle .”
    “Yeah, but your mom is… well, your mom . You’ll always be okay. Everyone thinks she kicks ass.”
    He’s kind of right. “So, you called for some girlie-talk to make you feel better, and instead you helped my sorry ass.”
    “Antony, right now everyone is salivating over your latest adventure with some wild-man father no one’s heard of on some exotic sailboat near Seattle. It’s all adding to your mystery as the world-traveler.”
    I hadn’t thought of it that way. “It’s just Seattle man, and there’s worse things than your mom being a totally hot actress.”
    “Gross, Antony.” He’s laughing.
    “You gonna survive?” I tease .              
    “Maybe I’ll come up and visit . Cali’s closer to Seattle than New York.”
    My chest drops. I really don’t want him here. Since when don’t I want to hang out with my closest friend fro m New York? “I don’t know David. T hey both feel like a lifetime away right now. ”
    “Don’t get all philosophical on me . Y ou know how it freaks me out . We’ll talk later.”
    “Later.” F ive days from home, and I feel separated. It’s crazy. Mom and I ha ve left New York loads of times. I t’s that we’ve always done it together. I can’t wait ‘ til she’s settled wherever she’s going so we can talk.
    - - -
    Amber’s already sitting at the coffee shop when I arrive in the morning.
    “W here’s your bo yfriend?” I tease— mostly to check her reaction.
    She blushes again. No kidding. “Come sit wi th me, and stop using that word. ”
    I order, push the hair from my face, and sit.
    “You’re a guy . . .” she trails off.
    I raise my brows. “Yeah, thanks for noticing .” I start to say something about the way I fill up my pants, but keep it to myself.
    “No.” She lets out this little snort of a laugh and stares at her cup. “I don’t want Kent to like me. That way. I don’t think. ”
    “Then stop being likable.” Wait. Did I say that?
    Her eyes wide n. “He’s my friend! I can’t be mean! An d I’m still not sure how I feel. I want him to not like me until I’m ready… or something like that . ”
    “No guy who likes a girl wants to be told she only wants to be friends. We’d rather get kicked in the… you know .” And if I keep spending time with Amber, at what po int will I rather be kicked than have her continue to be so depressingly friendly?
    Her face turns scarlet and her eyes bore holes into the lid of her cup.
    “ What exactly do you want from me?” And why would it make a difference if she wanted to be with him or not? I shouldn’t care what she does or doesn’t have going on with Kent. But I do.
    She slumps. “There isn’t some magic phrase or anything? A way to tell him I