While Mr. Jacobs stands at his podium discussing Romeo and Juliet, I discreetly pass Jacob a note.
Am I still coming over tonight since your parents are out of town?
Jacob looks at me and winks. I smile like a teenage girl in love because I am.
The bell rings, and school is over. Jacob and I grab our notebooks and leave the room.
“I have to get ready for football. I’ll swing by and pick you up after practice.” He kisses my lips.
“I can’t wait.” I smile.
“Me either, babe.”
Normally, Jack would drive me home after school since my car was in the shop. But since he has practice, I catch a ride with my best friend, Kourtney.
“Wanna hang out later?” Kourtney asks, pulling into my driveway.
“Jack’s parents are out of town, and I’m going over there tonight, which reminds me. I’m going to tell my mom that I’m spending the night at your house because your mom is working the night shift at the hospital, and you don’t want to be alone. We can hang out tomorrow.”
“Okay. I’ll be your cover for sexy time with your boyfriend.” She grins.
“Thanks for the ride. I’ll talk to you later.”
I step through the front door of my home and drop my backpack on the floor.
“Kat, is that you?” I hear my mother shout from upstairs.
“Yeah.” I walk into the kitchen and grab a can of Coke from the refrigerator.
She walks into the kitchen, her hands covered in yellow rubber gloves, holding a bucket.
“I just scrubbed your bathroom floor upstairs. So, if you go in there, be careful.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“How was school?” she asks, dumping the dirty water in the sink.
“It was good.”
“Homework?” She turns and looks at me.
“Yes, and I’m going upstairs to work on it now. I’m spending the night at Kourtney’s tonight. Her mom has to work the night shift at the hospital, and she doesn’t want to be alone. She’ll drive us to school in the morning.”
“Okay. You’re not seeing Jack tonight? Usually, you two are glued at the hip.” A playful smirk crosses her lips.
“He’s hanging with his friends tonight,” I lie.
I grab my backpack from the floor and take it to my room. I throw myself on my bed, pull out my phone, and fall down the rabbit hole of Instagram. After a while, I take out my physics book and read today’s homework assignment.
An hour into studying, my phone pings with a text from Jack.
“Hey, babe. I have to cancel our plans for tonight. I’m really sick.”
My heart sinks.“What’s wrong?”
“I was in the middle of practice and started throwing up. The coach sent me home early. I barely made it home before I threw up again. I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay. I hope you feel better. I can bring you some chicken soup.”
