Waiting for Dusk by Nancy Pennick Page B

that, are you?”
    Jackson laughed. “No, Katie my love. I just
happened to see the mileage on the Mustang and knew it had been
driven. I was surprised to find out it was you. That’s all.”
    “It was just around a parking lot.” Katie
rolled her eyes.
    “She needed a distraction. You had fun,
didn’t you, Katie?” Her mom looked at her with wide eyes. Katie
knew she was looking for a diversion.
    “Dad, school starts in less than two weeks.
Do you think you can give me some more driving lessons now that
you’re home? I should have my driver’s license by now.” Katie
wrapped her arms around his neck, jumped on his back and Jackson
started running around the house with her, finally dumping her on
the sofa. She looked at her mom and gave her the okay hand
signal.
    “My two girls, you know how to get the best
of me,” Jackson ran back in the kitchen and gave Joanna a kiss on
the cheek. “Dinner’s on the deck tonight, girls. I’m cooking.”
    Katie was happy things were back to normal.
During dinner she planned on asking her parents some questions,
being careful not to reveal too much about her dreams or who she
had met. She ran back upstairs, found her phone and made plans for
the day.
    “Ty, I need something to do.”
    “Come over and we’ll shoot some baskets.”
    “Don’t really want to do that, how about the
mall?” Katie really wanted to shop.
    “Okay, but you owe me.”
    “Fine, see you in a bit.” She would make it
up to him. Maybe a quick game when they got back.
    “I’ll be home in time for dinner,” Katie said
as she ran down the stairs. “Ty is taking me shopping.”
    “That boy must really like you to take you
shopping.” Her father grinned as she ran by.
    “Oh, Dad,” was all she could say as she went
out the door.
    Tyson’s mom sat in the car, waiting to drive
them to the mall.
    “Sorry about this,” Tyson whispered. “I
should have my license soon.”
    “Don’t we all wish we had our licenses?”
Katie whispered back as she climbed in the car, and to his mother
she said, “Hi, Mrs. Gray. Thanks for taking us.”
    Ty and Katie were soon walking around the
mall. Ty was helpful, carrying Katie’s shopping bags and waiting
for her to try on clothes.
    “Aren’t you going to buy anything, Ty?” Katie
felt he should have some fun, too.
    “No, I’m good. I would like a soda though,
how about a break?”
    They walked over to the food court, got
something to drink and sat at a little table off in a corner.
    “I want to ask you something, Katie. I know
it’s early, and school hasn’t started yet, but I didn’t want to
take any chances. Will you go to Homecoming with me?”
    Katie was taken aback. Ty was right. It was a
little early. She hadn’t even thought about school or Homecoming.
She had a wedding to be in first. Plus she already had a
boyfriend...what was she thinking? She nodded her head and then
said, “Of course, I will, Ty. I’d love to go with you.”
    Tyson’s mouth slowly grew into a large grin.
He slapped the table and put his arms over his head like he won a
race making Katie feel a little uncomfortable. Then he leaned over
and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Katie, you know I love you. Do you
want to go dress shopping now?”
    Katie assumed he was kidding and playfully
punched him in the arm. His arm was solid. He got more muscle at
basketball camp. She studied him carefully, and began to see him in
a new light. Her girlfriends said he was hot. Maybe she never
noticed because she always saw him as a ten-year-old boy that was
her friend. She needed to start looking at him in a different
way.
    Boyfriend? Katie had trouble associating that
word with Tyson. She thought she’d try it out again in her head but
instead thought, Drew. Groaning, she put her head down on the
table.
    “Katie, are you alright?”
    “Yes, sorry. Just tired. Can we go home now?”
Katie sat up.
    “Sure, I’ll let my mom know.” He pulled out
his phone.
    They walked to the middle of