Plus, it’s not really hard to feign exhaustion. The five weeks since the homecoming dance have been a football-filled blur. School, practice, and homework all week, game on Friday night, followed by a flight to one of our top five colleges for an official recruitment visit. Home on Sunday night and then repeat.
About two weeks into it all, I messaged Dani and told her that I was sorry I got mad at her for not texting me when she got back to school after my birthday. That with the recruiting visits and school and everything, I finally understood what she’d meant when she said there just wasn’t time. She replied, told me thanks, and said that she looked forward to us catching up at Thanksgiving.
And I know what that means. Just like on my birthday and for Homecoming, catching up has taken on a whole new meaning. At first, I wasn’t sure about the whole friends-with-benefits thing, and maybe I’ve grown up a little or something, but I’m okay with it now—for a while. I understand it’s a timing thing, not that we don’t want to be together eventually.
All I know is that I can’t wait for her to get home on Tuesday. To tell her the good news. That after visiting beautiful campuses, meeting a lot of great guys and gorgeous coeds, looking hard at programs, and weighing all our options, Damon and I have come to a final decision. We will be signing our Letter of Intent with Nebraska, as planned.
Meaning we’ll be there together. I can picture it now. She’ll be thrilled to learn our choice, but then I’ll kiss her and tell her the best part of all. That when she goes back to school after Christmas break, I’ll be going with her. She’ll jump into my arms, wrap her legs around my waist, and kiss me. And we both know what that will lead to.
When I applied to my top schools this fall, the thought of being there a full semester without Damon really bummed me out. But now, I think it will be kind of nice for Dani and me to have a semester to ourselves.
The renovation on the building Mom bought will be finished later this winter, and even though we’ll be living in separate dorms, once the project is complete, we’ll have a private place to hang out. To be together with no distractions.
A love nest, if you will.
It’s been a long two years since that day Hunter asked her to Homecoming, but I know we’ve both grown up a lot since then and that the trials we’ve gone through will only make our relationship stronger in the end.
And I know, my end—my destiny—is to be with her.
And in less than two months, it’s finally going to be our reality.
My phone buzzes, letting me know that my delivery has arrived. I go downstairs, answer the door, collect my pizza, and then take it back into my room.
I eat it in the tent that’s become a permanent fixture in my room and dream of our future together.
Thursday, November 21st
Thought you should know.
Chase
I’m in the basement, watching a college football game on the big screen with my dad.
At halftime, I run upstairs to make a quick smoothie—mixing protein powder with almond butter, cocoa, bananas, and cashew milk. But instead of putting in the normal amount of milk, I add just a little to keep the texture thick. This is one of my favorite combinations, so rich and decadent that I can eat it with a spoon, like ice cream. I take a few cold bites and decide to run up and grab a sweatshirt.
When I walk past Haley’s room, I find her and Damon with their heads together. Their voices are hushed, but they seem to be discussing something very passionately.
So much so that they don’t even notice me when I walk into the room.
I tap my sister on the shoulder.
She screams and jumps up.
Even Damon sucks in his breath. “Dude, you can’t sneak up on us like that,” he says, his hand to his chest.
“What are you two conspiring about?” I ask them.
“Uh, nothing,” my sister says unconvincingly. “Just talking about school.”
“Okay, what about me at school then? I heard you say my name.”
They share a glance, and Damon tilts his head back and forth like he’s weighing options in his head. He ends up giving her a slight head nod.
Haley takes a deep breath. “We were actually discussing whether or not we should tell you about something that we believe you will find upsetting now before it happens or if we should just let you find out, uh—”
“Organically,” Damon says.
“Organically?” I ask.
“Yes, like, on your own,” Haley repeats.
“And it’s something that will upset me?”
“Yes, but this, um, event isn’t going to happen until next week. And we were arguing about what to do. Basically,” Haley explains.
“So, do you want to know?” Damon asks, cutting to the chase.
“Are we talking upset me, like Winger is sick? Or Grandpa has cancer kind of thing?”
“Oh no!” Haley says. “It’s nothing like that.”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake,” Damon says. “You’re freaking him out worse than just telling him. So, the deal is that my sister is bringing a friend home for Thanksgiving.”
“Oh,” I say. “Like, one of her sorority sisters? That’s cool. Why would you think that would upset me?”
“Because this is a guy friend,” Haley clarifies.
I study their faces. Haley is giving me the kind of smile reserved for when she feels bad for someone. Damon is looking at me like he’s worried I might punch him in the face.
“Wait. Like a guy friend. Or a boyfriend?” I ask.
“More like a boyfriend.” Haley replies.
“And?!”
Before, they were all talk-talk, and now that I actually want to know more details, they’ve suddenly gone mute.
“And that’s it,” Haley says. “We just thought you should know.”
“How did you find out about it?” I ask them.
“I overheard Mom and Jennifer talking about it.”
“I see,” I say softly even though I’m practically seeing red. “Well, thanks for the update.”
I storm out of the room, grab my stupid sweatshirt, and stomp down the stairs, looking for my mom. I know she already put Emersyn to bed, and I should be quiet, but I can’t help it. I’m pissed.
I find her downstairs on the couch with Dad.
I march in front of the television, towering over both of them.
“I understand you’ll be setting an extra place for Thanksgiving dinner,” I bellow.
Mom licks her lip and then bites it, like she’s trying to think of what to say. She knows she’s busted.
How could she do this to me?
“Haley overheard you talking to Jennifer. Were you not going to tell me?!” I say, my voice rising more.
“Tell him what?” my dad asks her.
It’s pretty obvious that I’m upset.
“Dani is bringing a friend home with her,” my mom replies.
“Oh, well, what’s wrong with that? We always welcome—”
“This isn’t just a friend, Dad. It’s not her roommate. She’s bringing home her new boyfriend, and Mom didn’t tell me.”
“Oh,” my dad says, his forehead creasing.
“So, Mom, what do you have to say for yourself?” I sass.