A moment later Jamie returned with the lemonade, and we took a seat in two chairs near the corner of the porch. I knew she and her father sat there in the evenings because I passed by their house now and then. As soon as we were seated, I saw Mrs. Hastings, her neighbor across the street, wave to us. Jamie waved back while I sort of scooted my chair so that Mrs. Hastings couldn’t see my face. Even though I was going to ask Jamie to the dance, I didn’t want anyone-even Mrs. Hastings-to see me there on the off chance that she’d already accepted Carey’s offer. It was one thing to actually go with Jamie; it was another thing to be rejected by her in favor of a guy like Carey. “Landon,” she said as she held open the door, “this is a surprise!” Jamie was always glad to see everyone, including me, vibram shoes though I think my appearance startled her. “You look like you’ve been exercising,” she said. “Not really,” I lied, wiping my brow. Luckily the cramp was fading fast. Despite my fevered rush to her house, my pessimistic side assumed that Carey would be the one who opened the door for me. Vibram I imagined him smiling at me with a victorious look in his eye, one that essentially meant “Sorry, partner, you’re too late.” But it wasn’t Carey who answered, it was Jamie, and for the first time in my life I saw what she’d look like if she were an ordinary person. She was wearing jeans and a red blouse, and though her hair was still pulled up into a bun, Vibram Five Fingers she looked more casual than she usually did. I realized she could actually be cute if she gave herself the opportunity. “You’ve sweat clean through your shirt.” “Oh, that?” I looked at my shirt. vibram fingers “That’s nothing. I just sweat a lot sometimes.” “Maybe you should have it checked by a doctor.” “I’ll be okay, I’m sure.” “I’ll say a prayer for you anyway,” she offered as she smiled. Jamie was always praying for someone. I might as well join the club. “Thanks,” I said. She looked down and sort of shuffled her feet for a moment. Vibram Five Fingers US Sale “Well, I’d invite you in, but my father isn’t home, and he doesn’t allow boys in the house while he’s not around.” “I’ll be right back.” She walked back into the house, but she left the door open and I took a quick glance around. The house, Vibram Fivefingers Speed Shoes Sale I noticed, was small but tidy, with a piano against one wall and a sofa against the other. A small fan sat oscillating in the corner. On the coffee table there were books with names like Listening to Jesus and Faith Is the Answer. Her Bible was there, too, and it was opened to the chapter on Luke. “Oh,” I said dejectedly, “that’s okay. vibram shoes We can talk out here, I guess.” If I’d had my way, I would have done this inside. “Would you like some lemonade while we sit?” Vibram Fivefingers Women Shoes Sale she asked. “I just made some.” “I’d love some,” I said. “What are you doing?” Jamie asked me. Vibram Fivefingers Kso Shoes “You’re moving your chair into the sun.” “I like the sun,” I said. She was right, though. Almost immediately I could feel the rays burning through my shirt and making me sweat again. “If that’s what you want,” she said, smiling. “So, what did you want to talk to me about?” Jamie reached up and started to adjust her hair. By my reckoning, it hadn’t moved at all. I took a deep breath, trying to gather myself, but I couldn’t force myself to come out with it just yet.