He was so hot without his shirt on, his slim stomach with the light smattering of dark hair that led into his pants. Why did he have to take his shirt off? The memory of seeing him shirtless is forever ingrained in my brain.
No, bad. Bad. Very horrible.
The waiter stops by our table and asks if I need anything. My mouth is dry, and I’m parched, but what I really want is something that will drown out the voices in my head telling me how horrible a friend I am.
“Just a water, please.” He nods and leaves me in my own bubble.
My parents are still playing Mario Kart, and from the loud sounds coming from them, my mom’s definitely winning. She’s like a superhuman when it comes to that game, or maybe she cheats. I’m not sure how she would cheat on a game like that, but my mom is a smart woman, so if anyone could figure it out, it would be her.
My phone buzzes from inside my pocket, and I flinch.
Thomas:Hey! Danielle gave me your number and told me it was your birthday. When you get back to campus, we should go out and celebrate it. My treat.
Oh. I didn’t realize that Thomas from the coffee shop and Danielle were friends like that, but maybe she’s trying to set me up with him. How bad is it that she wants me to date someone, but I’m lusting for her boyfriend behind closed doors?
Hunter:Yeah! Sounds great. I’ll be back tomorrow night.
There was no nice way to tell him no, and he was cute. That’s what I need. A cute guy who will help me get over my crush on Adam. A harmless crush on him is fine, but I can’t do anything else about it. No more touching, kissing, or being in confined spaces with just the two of us.
Thomas:Does Monday night work for you? I can pick you up.
God, why, why me? Monday is so soon.
Hunter:Perfect.
Thomas:Can’t wait :)
“Who’s that?” I let out a small shriek, clutching my heart. Adam is standing over me, looking at the phone in my hand like it’s the devil himself.
“No one.” I quickly exit the app and tuck my phone back into my pocket. Adam looks like he wants to question me more aboutit, but my parents choose that moment to come to the table, and Danielle isn’t far behind them.
“Who’s hungry?” my dad asks.
After our stomachs are full,my mom and Adam lean in close to whisper to each other.
Suspiciously, I question, “What are you two planning?”
“Nothing,” they both say at the same time, and then share a secret smile.
I eye them, hoping one of them will crack and let me in on what they’re up to.
“Are you ready to go home, honey?”
“Sure,” I hedge. After the tab is paid, we walk out of the restaurant, Danielle hanging back with me and my dad while he tells me about new stuff going on at his job. But my focus is on the two people in front of me, talking quietly amongst themselves.
They don’t include us. Not in the car. Not when we get home. Not even when I announce I’m going to shower and get ready for bed. Seriously, what is going on?
When I get out of the shower, they’re all sitting at the kitchen table, a platter of chocolate chip cookies in the center.
“Is this some kind of intervention?” Nobody says anything, and my mom gestures to the open seat at the end of the table, the one my dad normally sits in. “Okay, you’re really starting to freak me out. Who died?”
“No one died, quit being dramatic.” My dad claps me on the shoulder.
My mom hands me a card at the same time Adam slides one over to me. I eye them, nervous to open them. “Mom,” I hesitate.My mom is one of my favorite people and truly knows how hard birthdays are for me. So surely she wouldn’t play a prank on me. Not today.
“Open them!”
“Yeah, open them, Collins.” Adam is smirking, and I want to kiss it right off his lips. No,smack.I want to smack it right off his lips.
