“You didn’t have to do that,” I say, trying to play it off, and Jack laughs.
“Why wouldn’t I if it makes you more comfortable? Besides, they’re here for Ellie and Sara too, and I guess if any of these buffoons get girlfriends, they can use them too,” Jack says, and I think I’m in some real trouble.
How am I supposed to pretend I’m not falling head over fucking heels for Jack?
“Al?”
I clear my throat, glad he gave me a heads up about this so I have a chance to compose myself before I see him, because I’m ready to burst into tears.Stupid hormones.
“Sorry, I was focusing on the road. It just started snowing,” I say, buying myself a moment.
“I’ll let you go then. Drive safe.”
“See you in a few,” I say, trying to calm the butterflies fluttering in my chest.
It’s not just a little crush.
Leave it to me to fall for the most unavailable guy on campus I have no chance with.
I park on the street in front of their house, dragging my hands over my face. What am I doing here? Maybe I should go to my apartment instead, and ask Jack for forgiveness for ditching. On the other hand, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than with him, even if it causes me more pain in the end.
Is it really that far-fetched of an idea to hope Jack might return my feelings, even if he’s not ready to admit it?
I climb out, tucking my arms tight around myself while I run to the door, flurries kissing my cheeks. I knock once before opening the door, and Jack’s entire face lights up when he turnsmy way, hopping over the back of the couch to greet me at the door, helping me out of my coat.
Jack kisses my cheek, and the damn butterflies are back. He scans over my face, and I give him a smile, hoping he can’t read too far between the lines to see how I feel about him. “I’m sorry it didn’t go well,” he says, keeping his voice soft while he tucks my hair behind my ear.
“How do you know it didn’t go well?” I ask, as Nate laughs from the other room.
“Because you were supposed to be there for another hour. I might not be a genius, but even I can connect the dots that you and your dad got into it,” he says, and I don’t love the dig he makes at himself.
“Hey, you are smart,” I say, and Jack shrugs, leaning down to distract me with a kiss.
“Wanna play with them?”
“Sure, but I have to work on our essays at some point,” I say, sliding my arm around his lower back. Dylan’s walking down the hall, looking confused by the plastic wrapper in his hand, which I immediately recognize as a tampon. I guess Jack didn’t wait to let me look through the boxes.
“Hey, what are these in the bathroom?” he asks, and his timing couldn’t be better because my lower stomach cramps serve as a reminder I’m in hell for the next few days, and I grimace.
Jack and I stop, waiting to see how this plays out.
Coop snorts, taking a drink of his beer as Nate flips another card over for him. “Why are you holding a tampon?”
Dylan looks at it, his eyes widening. “This is a tampon? What the hell does theSstand for?”
“I think it’s the size or something,” Coop says, and Ellie trained him well, but Dylan’s making it painfully obvious he doesn’t have any sisters.
Dylan tears it open as Jack sighs next to me, but I’m curious to see how this will play out. His mouth drops, and he holds the plastic applicator up. “And they do what with these?”
I cough, causing all of their eyes to dart to mine. “Um, you don’t know how a tampon works?” I ask, and Coop shrugs. I look up at Jack who also is looking at the tampon like it has claws and teeth, and I giggle, covering my mouth. “Do you want a demonstration?”
Jack’s eyes widen, he looks down at my stomach before looking at his friends. “Um, Al?—”
I hit his chest with the back of my hand as his face turns crimson. “Oh my god, I’m not going to show you with my vagina!”
Nate laughs, shaking his head. “Wow, you really need to be more specific.”
“I hate living here,” Coop says, rubbing his temples.
