Shirt.
Definitely shirt.
He raked a hand through his hair before he offered me a hand before pulling me to my feet. “I’ll see you in the morning?”
“Can’t miss me. I’m the one with the car.”
He grinned and, after one more very promising kiss, he left—via the front door this time instead of the back. I leaned against the closed door after he was gone. I kind of wanted to open it and call him back, but bad idea. We’d already just—wow. I looked at the sofa.
I was never looking at it the same way again.
When I went to bed, I was needy and aching even after Coop got me off. The cats swarming up for attention couldn’t fully distract me.
It took me a long time to go to sleep, more than enough time to imagine if I’d let Jake and Ian come over or invited Coop to stay. Tomorrow, I’d be with Archie.
Groaning, I covered my eyes. It was only the second week of senior year. I wasn’t going to make it until Christmas.
At the speed we were all going, I wouldn’t even make it to homecoming.
Shit.
I sat up and Tiddles yowled as he leapt off me.
Tomorrow the asks would start.
The asks would start at school. I had a date with Archie afterward. I was supposed to meet the rest of the guys after the game and there was a party on Saturday, after which I had to break up with Mathieu.
Flopping back on the bed, Marsha’s advice about not missing anything this year floated through my head. I barely had any time now. If I had more—that would give me more time with them.
There was the rub.
I wanted time withallof them.
I wasn’t really sure what that said about me.
Chapter Twenty
The Asks
By the time morning rolled around, I was a mess. I’d barely slept. I also discovered I had two new hickeys in addition to the one Jake left me with. One was on my breast, so I could cover it up easily, but the second one was higher, above the one Jake had given me, closer to my ear.
Hair down again today. My stomach did a little flip-flop. The morning round of texting had already begun. Archie had sent me three in rapid succession.
Archie:Today’s a big day. Just don’t forget we’re going out tonight.
Archie:I would also like to make it clear that I want to ask you to homecoming, but since Bubba asked first, I’m being noble. But I want to take you to senior prom. You and me, if you’re willing.
I forgot how to breathe. Prom was months away.
Archie:Yes, I know prom is months away, but after homecoming, there aren’t any other dances. Say yes? Please?
Sitting on the edge of my bed, I exhaled.
Yes,I texted.I’ll go to prom with you.
Then, because it was Archie, I added,But you may need to remind me. We’re going to be exhausted by March.
A calendar appointment invite from Archie showed up almost at once and I laughed.