“Well, you have Fergie and Di, and Esther’s cute enough in a pinch. I think we’d make it.”
“True,” I snort.
“Your dad said the bingo’s going well. You and Saylor getting along now?” Jake asks. “Bethany said Saylor’s having fun.”
I swallow and hope Jake can’t tell what kind of fun Saylor and I have been having. I don’t think we’re keeping it a secret, exactly. I just don’t think I should say anything to Jake about it. Me and girls isn’t something we really talk about. Me and Saylor would be too much of a bombshell during a Will Smith movie. Besides, I kinda like that we have this thing that’s just ours. I’m not ready to share it with anyone yet.
“Yeah, we’re good. I like hanging out with her,” I say honestly.
“I like Saylor,” Axel says, scaring the crap out of me.
“Jesus, Axe. Are you awake?”
“No,” he replies. I think he’s joking, but a second later, his mouth goes slack and he’s snoring even louder than before.
“Poor little guy’s all tuckered out from his grown-man job.”
“Yeah, I could never do all that. Manual labor is not for me.”
“Anyway,” Jake says, looking back in my direction. “You think you’d actually wanna hang out with Bethany and therest of her friends in the fall instead of avoiding them in a corner?”
“God, was I that obvious?”
“Yes.” Jake laughs.
“Whatever,” I say, trying to look anywhere but at my friend. “I will continue to be dark and mysterious and grace whomever I choose with my presence when I feel the time is right.” No matter how I feel about sports, I am not going to suddenly become a basketball fan overnight just because of Saylor. Will I show up to every single one of her games if she asks me? Yes, yes, I will. That’s just what #MoreThanFriends do.
27
Saylor
Our trip to Santa Barbara was great. Lovely, the best. Even though I couldn’t swim in my aunt’s pool, I had an amazing time. And now I cannot wait to get back home. But of course Cristine Ford has to completely harsh my vibe. Before we even leave my aunt’s house, Mom tells me she wants to do a fresh haul video for the stuff we bought while shopping, but if I don’t see Heaven soon, I’m gonna die.
Thank the lord, Heaven is two steps ahead of me and my mom—she texts me as we’re loading the car to leave.
Not sure what time you’ll be back.
But my parents said you can sleep over tonight.
If you want to.
I almost drop my phone and then I almost scream.
Yes! Oh my god yes!
Let me just ask my parents. Even if they say no, I’ll walk over again anyway.
They can’t stop me.
I do the smart thing and read the room. Let my mom and my aunt cry over each other. I thank my aunt for the good time and my uncle for ordering pizza twice from the place I like. Hugs, hugs, hugs for everyone, especially baby Lucy, who only spit up on me twice. I even keep it quiet and cute when we get in the car and my mom starts asking Dad if he wants her to make dinner when we get home. But as soon as the tires on my dad’s SUV hit the 101, I am all over my parents.
“Can I sleep over at Heaven’s tonight?”
Mom’s head pops up as Dad looks at me in the rearview mirror.
“Uh, sure. Did you guys already make plans?” Mom asks me.
“Yeah. She said the doctors said it was okay.”