Part 34 (1/2)
”Been around lots of truckers, huh, Mom?” I raise a brow and watch her stifle a laugh.
”You know me,” she shrugs.
”Does Dad know about your trucker fetish?”
”He didn't tell you that's how we met?”
”I give up,” I laugh and stand up to get something to eat but she gives me a sly grin so I wait to see why.
”What?” she asks, maintaining her composure.
”You're the one looking at me all crazy-eyed, so you tell me,” I say, mimicking her stance.
”Something came in the mail this morning.” She smiles and slides a large envelope over to me.
If I was tired, it's gone now and replaced by the sudden rapid pounding in my chest. My hands are clammy and I feel too warm in my pajama shorts and tank. I look around to see if anyone else is up, but no one is. The entire future of my academic career is just inside this piece of paper, and as soon as I open it I'll know whether I got into my first choice.
”Should I stand here and watch or are you some sort of freakish teenager that can touch the thing and know what it says?” She smirks.
”I can't do this right now, not with everyone here,” I say with a slight shake in my voice. ”I have to wait.”
”I don't,” she answers, s.n.a.t.c.hing the paper from me.
”Mother, give it back,” I say, louder than intended, and she laughs.
”You said you can't do it, but I can.”
”So help me,” I warn as I narrow my eyes and smile because I know she has no intention of opening it.
”So help you what?” Haden asks, catching us both by surprise.
Mom shoves the envelope behind her back, slips it onto the counter, and shrugs. ”Oh you know how she is,” Mom says. ”Are you hungry, Haden?”
”I could eat,” he says, taking a seat in the barstool I just vacated.
”Me, too,” Joey says while stretching as he enters the kitchen.
”You kids have a seat and I'll get it together,” Mom says.
I walk over to sit with the guys and slowly the rest of the crew enters and fills up the kitchen table. It's loud and there are at least three different conversations going on at once. Dad strolls into the room and grabs the pot of coffee and pours a gla.s.s but stops mid-pour and sets it down.
”Laila,” he holds up the envelope, ”what's this? You didn't open it yet?”
All eyes turn to me and heat stings my cheeks. I don't want an audience, but it appears I have one.
”No, I was going to wait.” I smile an uneasy grin.
”What is it?” Braxton asks.
”It's a letter from Baylor,” Mom says with controlled excitement. ”She's scared to open it.”
”Open it, Lai,” Haden nods and smiles, encouraging me because he knows what this could mean for us.
I exhale loudly and take the envelope from Mom, and rip the opening back before pausing. Everyone looks at me and waits until Joey nudges my arm, prompting me to pull the piece of paper out.
Dear Laila, Congratulations! On behalf...
”I got in,” I scream and jump up and down. ”Mom, I got in!”
”I'm so proud of you,” she says with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face. She wraps me into her arms and hugs me, followed by my dad, who hugs both of us.
Dad's eyes are gla.s.sy, but he clears his throat and manages to hide the emotion. One by one, everyone hugs and congratulates me-everyone but Haden. He's still sitting in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest and a smug grin on his face. He finally stands up, walks over to me, and pulls me into a big hug.
”Congratulations.” He smiles before he kisses my cheek. ”I knew you'd get in.”
”Thanks,” I sigh, looking at the letter and reading the first word over again. ”Now if we can just get your letter in.”
”Actually,” Joey punches him in the arm as he walks past, ”someone already did.”
Haden's eyes widen with shock and the two exchange a look that piques my interest.
”Are you serious? And you haven't said anything?”
”Maybe I didn't get in,” he reasons.
”Yeah, he did.” Joey nods his head.
”What?” I gape, not even trying to hide my shock. ”Haden! When did you find out? Where did you get in?”
”I found out a couple of days ago,” he admits while everyone watches us.
”So?” I ask.
”So, what?” He smiles, knowing that he's getting me worked up.
”Haden Searle, you better tell us where you got in,” I demand. There were only a few places that he applied to, but I was never sure which was his first choice.
”TCU,” he finally confesses. ”I got into their Studio Art program.”
”Do you know what this means?” I ask purely out of shock.
”That we'll be going to school less than two hours away from each other?” he says as if it's a question.
”No, it means that you and Braxton are going to school together,” I tell him and watch his ego deflate a little before I finish. ”And yes, we're only two hours away. Wow,” I breathe out and look around at everyone wearing smiles of their own. ”This is it, isn't it? Prom is over. All we have are finals and graduation.”
”Don't get all mopey now,” Cole pleads. He walks over and wraps an arm around me and squeezes tight. ”You just found out that you got into your dream school. Can you be happy for at least another ten minutes? And don't mention finals again. Got it?”