“We could do Saturday morning,” Willow is saying now. “Brett can pick you guys up and then we’ll grab some coffee on our way out of town. I amnotgiving up both my bed and coffee.”
“Your bed?” I repeat. We’re on lunch duty today, so we’re circling the cafeteria, keeping an eye on all fifty-something kids.
“I know, I know. You’ll say we have sleeping bags, but a sleeping bag is not a bed,” Willow says.
Now I’m completely confused. “What do you need sleeping bags for?”
“For camping! I knew you hadn’t been paying attention,” she says. “Where do you go in that head?”
To the past.
Always to that night.
“Who’s going camping?”
Willow stops walking abruptly and sets her hands on her hips. “Okay, seriously?”
“I’m sorry. I’ve been spacing out all day.”
“Yeah, I know you have,” she says. “We’re going camping. You, me, Luke, and Brett.”
If she didn’t look dead serious, I would be laughing.
“Uh, what gave you that idea?”
“The fact that Luke told Brett you would? Also, I’ve been talking about it all day, and all you’ve done is nod and agree. You’re not going to back out, are you?”
“I was neverin,Wills,” I say. “Why the heck are you going camping?”
“For my vlog. Xothelodown does the woods.”
I stifle a smile. “That sounds ... interesting.”
“My followers voted for it. Honestly, I’m a little terrified. You know what Brett is like: supermacho and nature-y and all that. If you don’t come, I’m not sure I’ll be coming back alive.”
“Okay, supermacho and nature-y does not mean he’s going to bury your body in the woods. Also, a getaway in the woods with just the two of you? That’s so romantic.”
Willow gives me a stern look. “If it’s so romantic, why are you trying to get out of it?”
“Willow, I can’t,” I say firmly.
“On account of?” she prods.
“On account of ...” I struggle to think of an excuse. I’m not even working this Saturday, thanks to Ernie’s excursion. “I don’t camp. Plus! I volunteer at the club on Saturday morning.”
“We’ll go after. Or I can talk to Daddy. We can totally get you out of it.”Shit, it’s true.Willow’s father owns Tennis Win.
“Willow—” I say.
“Please. I will love you forever.” She bats her eyelashes at me. “Plus, if you don’t want to go, you have to take that up with your boyfriend, because he already said you would.”
“Fine, I think I will. Take it up with him.”
“Fine,” Willow says.
When I stop by for dinner at Luke’s house, I plan on confronting him, but he’s on the phone as he opens the door.
Mel is in her room tonight. She’s sitting in her wheelchair, a piece of paper in her hand, but it looks like she’s struggling to hold the pen.
