“Yeah. I do. I’m not staying if you’re not.”
Nodding, I turn and start walking again. I have no idea what Carley’s thinking, but my concern is she’s thinking I may have overreacted. “Um….”
“What?”
“I think I may have overreacted by storming out of the party like a house on fire.” Just putting it out there. No need for me to hide my thoughts from her.
“Mm, yeah. I was sort of thinking the same thing.”
Why do I hate that she said that? She was merely agreeing with me.
“Here’s the thing, though,” she adds. “It’s going to be interesting to see what he does.”
“Eli?”
“Yep.” She pops thepsound at the end. “My theory is that he’ll jump into his fancy SUV and be hot on your trail any minute.”
I turn my head to look back the way we came. No sign of Eli’s vehicle. “You think?”
“I do. And here’s what we need to do. We head for Gilly’s Fro-Yo. If he doesn’t find us before then, we stop for some delicious frozen yogurt.”
“And if he does?” I love this girl.
“Then give him a chance to explain himself. If he makes up some bullshit excuse about why he just left you standing at the door, then you know he’s not for you. But if he seems sincerely sorry, then maybe you kiss and make up with him whileIget some delicious frozen yogurt.”
I slap her arm and laugh. “Not fair. I want fro-yo too.” Even though it’s pretty dang cold outside. It’s too bad I left my coat in his car.
“I’m sure your boy will buy you some.”
As we turn the corner onto one of Madison’s main thoroughfares, we hear a horn honk. Looking to our right, we see Eli’s sleek black SUV pull into the convenience store parking lot in front of us and stop.
“There he is,” Carley hisses. “Listen to me.” She bends closer and whispers in my ear, “Donotapologize.”
I look up at her. “I won’t.” I didn’t do anything terribly wrong. Not really.
“Good.” She gives me one good nod. “Because, my virginal little friend, he needs to learn to grovel every now and then.”
“That doesn’t seem right.”
“Right, schmight. If he doesn’t see how his actions have consequences… how will he ever learn?
I release a snort that’s louder than it should have been. “He’s not a dog for crying out loud, Carley.”
“Just trust me. He’ll kiss your pretty little ass.”
“My ass is not little.”
“It’s perfectly round and perky. I’d kill for your ass.”
I grumble at her because she loves to embarrass me like that sometimes. That’s when I see Eli has parked his car, opened his door, and stepped out. Carley and I slow slightly as we approach him. “Remember what I told you.”
“I will.” I’ll try anyway.
“Em.”
I don’t say anything because I’m not sure what to say yet.
“Emma,” Eli says again. “Get in the car.”
