There’s something in his tone that throws me off. I raise an eyebrow, following him as he moves towards the dining table. “What makes you think I need company?”
He sets the pizza and lava cakes down on the table, then turns to face me. “You seemed off this morning. I don’t know, I just had a feeling you might need something to take your mind off things.”
I pause, caught between surprise and… gratitude, maybe? It’s not like we’re best friends, and yet here he is, standing in myapartment with dinneranddessert, just because he thought I might need it.
I bite my lip, struggling to put the words together. “I… thanks. I guess I’ve had a lot on my mind lately.”
He nods, like he understands, like he’s been there too. “Wanna talk about it over trash reality?”
We set up the food at my coffee table while I tune into a replay ofYou’re The One. The cheesy, over-the-top drama of the show feels oddly comforting right now. Jared grabs a couple slices of pizza and sinks into the couch, clearly settling in for a long night of junk food and bad TV while I’m trying to put my schoolwork away. I really need to build that desk.
“What’s with all the books? Don’t you have a desk for this kind of chaos?” he asks right before taking a bite.
I glance at the pile of textbooks and notes stacked haphazardly on the dining table. “Yeah, I do,” I admit, “but I haven’t had the chance to put it together yet. It’s been one of those things that keeps getting pushed down the to-do list.”
“What happened to it?”
“Shitty desk that broke on me.”
“Yikes.”
“Yeah, it’s okay. I’ll get to it eventually.”
We watch as Lara gets whisked away for her getaway date, the seconds dragging by during the commercial break. I’m getting antsy, just wishing Hulu would cut the ads already. Just when I’m about to snap, Jared finally breaks the silence.
“So, what’s going on in that head of yours?”
I start picking off the toppings on my slice. “I have to drive home this weekend.”
Jared chews slowly, his brow furrowing slightly as he looks at me. “I don’t see the problem. Aren’t you close with your family? I’d figure you’d be over the moon.”
“Yeah, but I have to go to aquince, and I hate spending time with that side of the family. They’re horrible.”
“Can’t be that bad.”
“Ever heard of aunt issues? My aunt is cold-blooded,bien tóxica.She loves judging me any time she sees the opportunity. So, yeah, I’m not looking forward to being home this weekend.”
“What about that cousin of yours? The one you idolize so much.”
I let out a dry laugh at that. “She won’t be there. She doesn’t want to be around her mom either.”
Jared raises an eyebrow. “Ouch, is she really that bad?”
I take another frustrated bite of my pizza, not even trying to hide my irritation. “Yes, very much so,” I mutter. “I’ll just suck it up when I get there.”
Jared pauses, contemplating my words. Then he looks up, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “What if I join you?”
“Join what?”
“Go with you?”
“¿Qué?” I say, genuinely confused.
He smirks at my frown. “I’m saying I’ll go with you to the party.”
“It’s a family party… You don’t have to do that.”
Jared stretches out across the couch, his arms folded behind his head, looking ridiculously laid-back. “You’re missing the point.”
