“You’re home?” she yelled back.
“I’m going over to Bas’s for a while, but I didn’t want you to worry if I didn’t show up!”
“Where’s your dad?” she asked as she rounded the corner and came into view.
“He said he had to stay at the club for a while.”
“Why?”
“No idea.”
“Okay.” She frowned. “Is that my helmet?”
“Yep. Bas gave me a ride home, but we’re going to go hang at his place for a while.”
“Oh, really?” She smirked.
“Yes, really. I’ll be home late, don’t wait up.”
“Just text me if you’re not coming back tonight,” she said with a smile. “I don’t enjoy waking up to find you not in your bed.”
“That happened one time, and I was seventeen.”
“Still have nightmares about it.”
“You’re so dramatic.”
“You’re lucky,” she argued. “You got the mellow mom.”
“You grounded me for a month.”
“It should’ve been longer.”
“Bas is waiting.”
“Go. Have fun. Use protection!”
“Disgusting,” I sang as I spun toward the door.
“Or don’t,” she sang back. “I want grandkids at some point.”
“I’m telling Dad you said that!”
“Love you!”
“Love you, too!”
I hurried back outside and found Bas waiting right where I’d left him.
“Good?”
“Yep!”
The ride to Bas’s apartment was even better than the ride to my parents’ house. His hand found my thigh again, but this time I wasn’t dreading the moment he pulled it away. Instead, I was filled with anticipation.
It wasn’t like sex was a foregone conclusion, though it wasn’t off the table either. I was just excited to spend more time with him than a couple of stolen minutes. I wanted to see his space and find out more about him than I’d learned in passing over the years. Was he a neat freak? A slob? Did he have a coffee pot, or did he buy it when he went out? Paper towels or terry cloth ones? Was he one of those guys who lived in a bachelor pad, or did he actually decorate?
There was still a nagging little voice in the back of my mind that said I was stepping into a situation that might end really badly and make me look like an idiot, but I made a conscious effort to ignore it. Even after the episode with my car, part of me was still riding the high of my dinner with Nova, imagining that I could make a spot for myself in Eugene. I could become more than a spectator in family and club events. Carve out my own little spot.
