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Biting my lip, I waited.
Jake:Even if. Say yes.
Eyes closed I let out a little shiver then typed inYes.
Jake sent me a big smiley face and a kiss emoji followed by:Talk to you tomorrow. We’ll make time.
Rolling onto my back, I hugged the phone.
I was dating guys.
Plural.
Chapter Fourteen
Making Plans
Tuesday got off to a much better start than the day before. Mom was in the kitchen feeding the cats when I got up. She even had a pot of coffee made. Since she was still in her pajamas, her hair pulled back into a tidy knot, I wasn’t sure if she was going to work.
“Late start today,” she told me while I ate my toast. “Probably a late night tonight.”
Maybe I should have left it alone, but if anything, leaving an uncomfortable subject alone with the guys had created months of tension and discomfort for all of us. “You’ve had a lot of those lately. Is everything all right?”
“I know,” my mom said with a sigh as she poured her coffee. She dragged her steps a little. The shadows beneath her eyes said she hadn’t been getting a lot of rest. “I’m sorry, Frankie. I keep thinking I’ve got it all done and then… How are you doing? Everything fine at school?”
“Everything’s great,” I told her. It was true. “Got my French project done, though I have to finish compiling the video. I’m going to do that later tonight. I think there’s still some left in the fridge, if you want try it.”
She shot me an almost guilty look. “I might have tried it when I got in last night—along with the leftover Chinese. Thanks for that.”
“You’re welcome. I have to make a second one, so if any of it survives the sampling at school, I’ll leave you some in the fridge next week.”
“Thanks. You have a good day.”
That about summed up our whole conversation. She wandered back to her room with her coffee and closed the door. The TV was on in there when I left to meet Coop at the car.
Bubba’s bike was parked next to where I usually parked. He would have to have left it there and then hiked over to the stadium for practice. I was looking forward to riding it later. We found Archie in the cafeteria with coffee and ended up talking about the movie from the night before until Bubba and Jake got there. It was nice. Probably the most relaxed since we got back to school, at least for me. Although, I had to admit, I worried the dating thing might affect the dynamic, the guys picked on each other like they always did in between teasing me.
Government proved duller than dirt. Archie kept sending me menus and on the pretext of studying, I flipped through them then texted back a?.
His response was simplyPick one.
I snuck a look at him and raised my eyebrows and he mouthedFriday.
Oh.
He had said something about doing something this Friday without Coop waiting for us. I was torn, though. The menus all looked really good. So, finally, I sent back two of them withcan’t decide, either of these look awesome.
Archie:Deal. Want to do something after?
I tilted my head. Bubba and Jake wanted me to meet them after the game.Maybe. Might see Bubba and Jake after game. Want to hang out and then go see them?
Kind of a gamble but…
Archie:Just not at the game, right?
I made a face and he grinned.
Archie:I can think of something.
