“It was.” He grinned, looking down, forking his scrambled eggs.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had that much to drink before.”
He giggled. “Yeah, I guessed that.”
“Seriously? Did I embarrass myself? This girl kept shoving shots in my face. I couldn’t really say no.” I looked at him.
“You’re fine. You held it in like a champ, considering it was your first time at a party.”
Champ? Who says champ?
“Anyway,” he went on, “that was my cousin’s girlfriend. I saw her dragging you across the hall. You looked frightened. Like you didn’t know what do to.” He shook his head, laughing.
Girlfriend? Your cousin’s girlfriend tried to kiss me. Not cool.
My phone dinged again. I ignored the several attempts my mom made at trying to reach me. What was I going to tell her?Where are you?the text message read.
Sorry just woke up. Went to Dana’s after Cedar Point, I lied. I needed to figure out a way to ease her. I’d never not come home before unless I was with a cousin, and she knew about it in advance.
She tried calling again, and I ignored it.
Ma. They’re still sleeping. I’m getting up. Be home soon, I texted.
My phone dinged again.Your sister told me you were home last night.
I sighed, frustrated.Really, Riley? This is a new low, I thought before writing,Yeah. Then I walked over to Dana’s later on.
Now I was in trouble. My sister had to open her massive mouth again, didn’t she? I now had to think of something to say to Mom. Something believable about where I was. Something to put her at ease so she wouldn’t call Dana’s parents, which would end in disaster for Dana and me.
I asked Thad to drop me off in the school parking lot to make it seem like I walked home from Dana’s. My mom would have been suspicious if she saw me being dropped off by an unknown car.
He pulled into the lot and parked in the back under the thick branches of a tree hanging over the fencing. I was surprised to see a few cars in the parking lot.It’s Sunday, and it’s summer. Who’s here?
“I had a fun time last night. Thanks for inviting me.” My eyes caught his before I added, “And for helping navigate my drunken body back into the house.”
We sat in silence for a while. He gave the impression of being content, but I could see that he was thinking about something. Was he regretting having woken up next to me? Would he continue to talk to me? I hoped he would. I really did. It had only been four days since he approached me outside on the last day of school, but I felt like we made a connection. I had a new friend. Who knew I would ever be able to make a guy friend? I sure didn’t.
“Well, uhh. I’m going to go. Thanks again.” I unbuckled and reached for the door handle.
“Erm. Wait a second.” He looked up at me, blushing as he tapped his foot on the floor.
I took my hand off the handle and shifted to face him. He looked to the side, then looked down, avoiding eye contact as he brought his hands together and cracked his knuckles. We sat quietly for another minute. He twisted his body toward me, lifting and then resting his exposed knee on the center console.How can a knee look so enticing?
His eyes eventually met with mine. I never noticed that he had such long eyelashes. They were visible in a lonely ray of dappled light.
“I, uhh. About last night,” he began. “You, ahh, didn’t happen to wake up while I was still there?”
I knew this was coming. I hoped he wasn’t upset about it. “I did. It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” I waved my hand. I didn’t want to lie to him. I could have continued to pretend that I was asleep, but I’d rather this new friendship start off with honesty. At least on my part.
He looked down, awkwardly holding his hands together before looking me in the eye again. “Thank you. I didn’t expect that.”
Didn’t expect what? To have your arm around me? Or to have a hard-on while your arm was around me?
Maybe he didn’t feel anything for me. It could have been normal morning wood.There’s no reason to fret about that. We all get it.
“Well. I need to head out before my mom sends a search party after me,” I joked.
“Étienne,” I heard him yell after I closed the door, rolling down the window as I started walking away. “Thanks,” he said after I turned to look at him.