She shakes her head and laughs. “Nope, no hints.”
“Do I get a surprise?” Harlow jokes, winking at me.
My mom glances at her. “In a couple of years … maybe.”
Harlow shrugs and turns a page in her magazine. “I can live with that.”
My phone chimes again. “I better go.” I point in the direction of the front door. “Jasper’s waiting.”
“Have fun,” Mom tells me.nbsp;
Dad grunts.
“Dad,” I say warningly.
“Have fun,” he replies grudgingly.nbsp;
I stifle a laugh, knowing it’s the best I’m going to get.
I hurry outside and into Jasper’s waiting Jeep.
“Sorry about that,” I say, pulling the seatbelt across my chest. “My parents wanted to talk before I left.”
“You’re not in trouble, are you? Your dad’s not planning to kill me and cut me up into a million pieces?” he jokes, pulling out onto the street.
“No,” I laugh. “They told me they have a surprise for me when I get home.”
I bite my lip, wondering what it can be.nbsp;
Now, between that and what I have to do I’m certain I am going to be sick—and God that’d be beyond embarrassing and make this day for sure go down as one of the worst. Not the worst, certainly, but definitely up there.
“Any clue what it is?”
“Nope, no idea. In fact, I’m kind of worried, but my mom seemed excited so it can’t be anything too bad.”
We near his house and I notice some cars parked on the street.
“Don’t worry,” he begins, sensing my unease. “It’s not too crowded, my parents, grandparents, and a few family friends.”
He parks in the driveway and I follow him to the garage and into the house.
“Mom, I’m back,” he calls out, heading for the kitchen.
Inside, I find a smorgasbord of food laid out. Everything from snacks like chips, to veggies and dip, beyond that there’s mashed potatoes, hamburgers, hotdogs, grilled chicken, green beans, rolls, and more. How anybody is going to eat this much food is beyond me.
“Grab a plate, Willa,” Tessa says with a smile, sticking something in the oven. “Everyone’s out back.”
Jasper and I load up plates with food—well, he does, mine looks naked next to his since I don’t have much of an appetite.nbsp;
He slides open the back door and we step out onto the patio. He’s right, there are not many people.
“Willa,” his grandmother cries, throwing her arms around me. I nearly drop my plate but somehow manage to hold on to it and not get any food on her or myself.
“Hey, how are you?”nbsp;
“Good, good,” she chimes, letting me go. “I keep telling Jasper to bring you back by and he hasn’t.”
“Grandma, I told you we’ve been busy.”