I press my lips to Jack’s hair. He stirs, a smile blooming across face even before he opens his eyes.
“Okay,thisis the best way to wake up,” he murmurs.
I hum in agreement.
He sits up and stretches, revealing Widget curled up on his other side. “What time is it?”
It’s a good question. I look over at the wall clock and suck in a breath. “Seven.”
“Mom’s already at the diner.”
“My parents are leaving in an hour.”
He turns. “Thought your parents would be like your uncle, and sleep late.”
“Not on travel days. They have a party in New York City tonight.” I stand, abruptly fully awake. “I told them I’d say goodbye.”
“Will you be in trouble for not going home? I can explain it was my fault.”
I brush back some of his messy hair. “It’s no one’s fault, Jack. And I think I have at least a few days of skirting Uncle Remington’s expectations before he wants to blow up again. Your mom embarrassed him.”
Jack chuckles. “She enjoyed that as much as I did.” He retrieves his phone. “Better tell her good morning. And tell Janet we’re going out. Hugh should wake her up anytime now.”
My eyebrows lift. “We’re going out?”
“I think we could both do with a breakfast at the diner, after you say bye to your parents. You can catch Mom up on everything.” His eyes widen. “Not that you need me to go with you, or even want me to, but I thought we could—”
I stop him with a quick kiss. “I do want you to come. They need to apologize to you.”
“They won’t like that.”
The tilt of his mouth says Jack does, though. “They’ll get over it. They were rude.”
I know Uncle Remington doesn’t approve of me dating a boy. He doesn’t approve of me in general, so I really don’t care what he thinks. I have a feeling my parents don’t know what to makeof it, but they didn’t say anything about it. Their uncertainty probably isn’t because I like boys (one boy, Jack), but because they don’t know me at all. The fact remains they were rude to Jack and his family, and need to own up to it to at least one of the Bensons.
And it should be Mrs. Benson.
I look up from tying my sneakers. “How bad of an idea is it to tell my parents to come to the diner with us?”
Jack frowns as he reaches for Widget’s leash. “You really want to?”
“They were rude to you, but they were worse to your mom. I doubt they’ll stay and eat, but they should come and apologize to her.”
Widget’s tail whirs as Jack puts on his collar and leash and leads him outside. “It’s worth a shot,” Jack says.
I’m surprised by how readily my parents agree, after we let Widget do his business, put him back inside, and walk to my house. My father actually greets Jack with an outstretched hand, as Mom hugs me.
“We were a little worried when you didn’t come home,” Mom says, “but you did say you’d be with Jack, and I know yesterday was . . . well, yesterday was a day for all of us. Some lines blurred.”
“I didn’t mean to spend the night,” I tell her.
She seems relieved, and gives Jack a look. “I’m glad you’ve been there for Elliot.”
For a second, I see a retort on Jack’s lips, a spark in his eyes, that says he wants to ask whytheyhaven’t been. He glances at me and it fades. “Me too,” he says instead.
“We have to go soon,” my father says, “so we should head to the diner.”
“Remington, would you like to come with us?” Mom calls.
