When Jessica asked Faith about her plans, she said she would be home watching Christmas movies and relaxing. I checked my phone. It was barely past eight.
Would it be weird to just show up though? I ran my hand through my hair.
Earlier when I complained about only getting one of Faith’s cookies, she mentioned she had extra, and that I could bring some home for Danny too.
Does that count as Faith inviting me over?
I drove out of the parking lot and onto the main road.
If I went to her place under the pretense of wanting cookies, she might invite me to stay.
I pictured Faith curled up on the couch in my arms, watching a Christmas movie.
I wanted to go over to Faith’s, and it had nothing to do with cookies or Danny.
I thought about Jessica’s comment about me following Faith around like a puppy. Did she think I was annoying?
Stupid Christmas.
Stupid loneliness.
Stupid cold.
My truck slowed at the stoplight, and I noticed the pile of burnt cookies on the seat next to me. I picked one up and shoved it in my mouth, hoping it would settle the uneasiness in my stomach. It was both dry and gummy. I shivered as I choked it down.
The reasons I should keep heading straight out of town, and back to Mom’s, played on repeat in my mind.
But when the light turned green, I made a U-turn and headed toward Faith’s.
I pulled into the duplex and silenced my loud truck’s engine. I scrolled through my text messages, just in case Mom texted. I checked the updated school basketball scores in the other 4A division schools.
I checked my email, which I never did.
I was stalling.
It was late. I ran a hand through my hair and laid my head back on the plaid bench seat.
Would she be happy to see me? Why did that matter so much to me?
She hadn’t seemed happy when I said we were friends earlier, but what had she wanted me to say? Did she want to be more than friends?
I knew what I wanted. I wanted to touch her hair, to hold her hand. I wanted to kiss her lips.
I closed my eyes.
This was stupid. I should leave. The truck roared back to life, and I put it in reverse.
The door to the duplex opened, and Rose Torres stood in thedoorway with her arms across her chest. She hollered something I couldn’t make out. I rolled down my window.
Well, I tried. It was manual, and when it was cold, it always got stuck halfway down. I sighed and stuck my head out the gap. “What?”
She rolled her eyes. “I said, are you coming in or not?”
Heat flamed my face. “Oh, umm, I just wanted to make sure Faith made it home.”
Rose raised her eyebrow in challenge. “Okay, silly me. Here I was thinking you wanted to come in.” She shrugged and started to close the door.
“No, wait.” I held up my hands. I put the truck in park and decided the window could stay how it was as I opened the truck door and jogged partway to the glowing inside of Faith’s home.
