Part 28 (2/2)
”I know, me too. Your sister is still running a fever, though.”
”No, it's fine, really. I think both Dad and I were bored for most of it.”
”He was texting me the entire time, so I really doubt it. Are you hungry? Do you need anything?” she rushes.
”Honestly, I'm exhausted and Haden's taking me out tonight-I'm not sure I'll be able to hang.”
”Then I suggest you take a nice warm bath and maybe a little nap.” She smiles.
”Do you know where he's taking me?” I question suspiciously.
She shakes her head and walks away, leaving me to wonder as I have been all day. She's been secretive ever since our little shopping excursion last night. It took three tries to find the perfect dress for prom. I had Mom snap a picture of the dress on the hanger to send over to Haden but he won't see it on until prom night. For the next ten minutes they went back and forth, and every time I tried to look at her screen she'd move away.
Dad walks in from the garage like the proud parent he is and high-fives me. ”Our girl did great,” he beams.
”So you said,” Mom pouts. ”I told her she needs to rest for tonight because she's not hungry.”
”Who said I'm not hungry?” I interject.
She walks to the refrigerator and pulls out some lunchmeat and condiments and places them on the counter. ”Okay, well you go shower and I'll make some sandwiches.”
I give her the salute I know she hates and run upstairs to get cleaned up. I have texts from Haden and Joey, but I skip reading them when the phone rings and I see it's Haden.
”Second place,” I answer without greeting him.
”That's awesome! Maybe your boyfriend should take you out tonight,” he answers.
”I thought he was, but I'm not sure what to wear.”
”Didn't he tell you to wear something comfortable?”
”Yeah, well that doesn't tell me much, now, does it?” I laugh. ”Are you sure you can't give me a hint?”
”Nope.”
”You suck,” I answer back with a roll of my eyes, even though he can't see it.
”No I don't. You just hate being out of the loop,” he reminds me, which is completely true, though I won't admit it to him.
”Did you call to hara.s.s me?”
Lame, I know-but it's the best I can come up with. I'm so bad at flirting.
”That and to tell you that I love you and I'll pick you up at six,” he says sweetly.
I think my stomach swirls a little. No matter how often he says those three words to me, or how long I've known him as one of the guys on my street-my best friend-he still has this way of making my heart flip.
”I'll be ready,” I breathe out as I try to compose myself. ”I'm about to take a shower now.”
”Lai?”
”Yeah?”
”I'll see you at five thirty,” he strains out.
”But you just said six,” I remind him and panic at the loss of those thirty minutes.
”Five thirty just sounds better,” he answers. ”See you then. Bye.”
”Haden?” I rush out, hoping that he's still on the line.
”Yeah?”
”Love you, too,” I answer, and hang up as I throw myself onto my bed to catch my breath.
”Thanks for waking me up,” I tell Mom when I go to the kitchen fully rested. ”I guess you still won't tell me what's going on.”
”I have no idea what you're talking about,” she says with a straight face. It would be convincing if I didn't know her as well as I do, so I choose to play along.
”Am I dressed okay?” I ask in an attempt to garner any new information out of her.
She looks me up and down as she takes in my skinny jeans and sleeveless striped tank that I'm wearing under my gray jacket and shrugs. Haden said dress comfortable and this fits that for me. I have my hair in a high ponytail so it is out of my face, and a smidgen of makeup on, but other than that I look the same as I do every other time he sees me.
”You always look pretty. Roll the sleeves up and I think you're good to go.” She smiles and looks at her watch. ”What time is he coming to get you?”
”Five thirty,” I answer and raise my brow in question.
”Then he should be here any-”
Someone ringing the doorbell interrupts her comment, and of course we know who it is.
”I got it,” Luka yells and runs into the living room despite not feeling well.
Mom runs after her to stop her from getting him sick, but by the time we get there, my little sister is already in his arms, resting her head on his shoulder.
He gives me a c.o.c.ky look and hands Luka off to my mom before kissing my cheek. I think it's sweet that he's so...Haden in front of my parents. Mom asks a few questions, but I pay no attention because my eyes are stuck on the guy I get to call my boyfriend. He opted out of his trademark jeans and looks preppy in his cargo shorts and collared s.h.i.+rt. His black hair and brooding appearance is a stark contrast from the look he's trying out, but I think it's cute all the same.
Mom says her goodbyes, and before I know it Haden has me in his car, driving to some location he still refuses to divulge.
It's not for a lack of trying on my part, that's for sure.
The entire fifteen-minute drive, I ask for hints, possible date-crashers, or any other clue he can give me so I can figure out where we're going, but he's a steel trap-smirking the entire time.
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