Every Other Weekend(60)
I’ll see you tomorrow.
Jolene:
Technically you’ll see me today.
Adam:
Even better. Night, Jolene.
Jolene:
Night, Adam.
EIGHTH WEEKEND
January 1–3
Jolene
When he knocked, I called for Adam to come in.
“You should check who’s at the door before you invite them in. I could have been a serial killer.”
“A serial killer who knocks? That’s behavior we should encourage, don’t you think?”
Adam joined me on my couch, and I made room for him by drawing my knees up. “I’m pretty sure being polite isn’t going to offset all the stabbing. Anyway, why aren’t you dressed?” He tugged the pant leg of the teal-green pj’s I was still wearing.
“Because I feel lousy, and real clothes aren’t as depressing as I want to communicate right now.”
“Your pj’s have little grinning sharks all over them.”
I pulled my leg out of reach. “Irrelevant.”
“This is the happiest thing you could have worn.”
“Well, I don’t feel good.”
“You look good. What’s wrong with you, and can I catch it?”
“Thanks. Cramps. And no.”
Adam’s gaze swept over me, assessing. “I’m guessing you don’t want to go out.”
“Do you want a medal for that?”
“No, but maybe don’t bite my head off for making an observation. Can I ask another question?”
“Depends on how inane it is.”
“I have another favor.”
I groaned and flopped back against the cushion. “No pictures right now. I feel like a cat box.”
“It does involve pictures, but not for another couple weeks.”
“I don’t have the brainpower to figure out what you want, so out with it.”
Adam frowned. “I might be having second thoughts. How long will you be ‘out of commission’?” He added air quotes.
I smiled without meaning to. “I’m not going to be great company today. Maybe you should come back tomorrow.”
“Nah. My dad already roped Jeremy into helping him retile all the bathrooms on the first floor. And anyway, I still prefer you in a bad mood to just about anyone else.”
All the blood rushed to my head and pounded behind my eyes. He said it so casually, like the nicest thing anyone had ever said to me. How could he throw away compliments like that? He wasn’t even throwing it away, he was saying it without having to think about it, like it was a given.
Nobody preferred me. Ever.
I was two seconds away from crying, which was ridiculous.
“Besides, it’s your fault that I’m in this position, so it’s only fair that you be the one to get me out of it.”
“Uh-oh,” I said, the cryptic wording distracting me from my impending tears.
“You know Erica and I broke up.”
“Who?”
Adam half smiled at my feigned ignorance. “What you don’t know is that we broke up right before winter formal.”
“Uh-oh.” If I wasn’t feeling so uncomfortable, I might have had some other feelings at the direction his words were heading.
“Only if you turn me down.”
“Are you asking?”
“Yes.”
“Ask me for real. Like in a complete sentence.”
He didn’t hesitate. “Jolene, will you go to winter formal with me?”
For a tiny split second, the cramping knives in my belly turned to feathers tickling up through me. “When is it? The actual date?” If it fell on a Dad weekend, I’d probably need a court order.
“January 22.”
Not a Dad weekend.
“Are you going to wear a suit?”
“Yes.”
“Will I get to meet your mom?”
“If she drives us.”
“She thinks we’re a couple though, doesn’t she?”
Adam flushed red and cleared his throat. “Um, she sort of knows about the whole fake-picture thing.”
“Honestly, I’m surprised you made it this long before telling her. You’re kind of a mama’s boy, Adam.”
“It just came up. She still likes seeing the pictures of us even if we’re just...whatever.”
“Just whatever?” I batted my eyelashes at him. “This is officially the most romantic way a boy’s ever asked me to a dance.”
His flush began to recede. “I was trying to say that my mom’s not going to expect me to maul you in front of her if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“So we’re clear, I’m going to pass on the mauling entirely even when she’s not watching.”
Adam started to smile. “That sounds like a yes...”
“Because it is.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, I’ll go with you.”
Adam grinned full out, sending warmth humming through me.
“You look surprised.”
“I figured you’d say no.”
“Adam, how many times do I have to tell you, I’m only a little embarrassed to be seen in public with you. Plus the dance is going to be at night, so...”