“Don’t worry about coming in this afternoon,” he said. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, not sure whether I should be happy or suspicious.
“Yeah, get these ladies home. I’ll see you Sunday night.”
“Thank you, sir.” I took Jade’s hand as Jessie hefted on the backpack. As we made our way back to the car, Hernandez’s girlfriend, who had arrived late, waved from a few cars down.
“Hey, Allen.”
I waved. “Hey, there.”
“It’s so good to meet you in person,” she called, pushing her dark hair from her face. “You have a lovely family.”
“Thanks,” I called back.
And then I realized what I had just said. And from the startled look on Jessie’s face, she had heard, too. Mumbling something about getting out of here, I buckled Jade in and got inside. Jessie did, too. I pulled out of the lot and turned back onto Arnold Drive, and for a long time, we didn’t speak. Rain started to pound the roof of the car, and lightning really began to crackle in earnest, but none of it could compare to the fear I felt inside.
Had I just ruined whatever it was that I had with Jessie? I didn’t mean to. It had been a quick exchange, and I hadn’t really been thinking when I’d said it. It just all seemed so natural. Way more than what I would have expected after knowing her for two months. But no matter how I tried to view it, there was only really one truth.
If I had a family, this would be exactly the way I wanted it to be.
We didn’t speak until I pulled onto the freeway.
“So…” I finally ventured, daring a meek look. “I’m sorry about that.”
“About what?” She looked up, eyes far too wide to be oblivious.
“Back at the picnic, when Hernandez’s girlfriend said we were a family. I didn’t mean—”
“Derrick.” To my surprise, she smiled. “It’s all right.”
I blinked at her. “Really?”
“Yeah.” She smiled again. “I don’t mind.”
As we turned continued through the pouring rain, I made a daring promise to myself that I would probably regret later. Sam Newman was breaking Rule Number Four. And if he could break the rules and still try to catch her attention, then so could I.
In fact, that was exactly what I was going to do.
28
My Life
Jessie
About five minutes from my house, my phone began to buzz with severe thunderstorm warnings as the sky really let loose. Rain hammered the car and smeared the windshield until it was hard to one car length in front of us. Thunder crackled on every side, ear-splitting in its proximity. Jade whimpered from the back seat, and I turned to reassure her while Derrick focused on the road. But even as I passed words of comfort, I found myself praying continually. There weren’t any tornado warnings out yet, just the same watches as there had been earlier. But that didn’t mean one couldn’t drop any minute.
Breathing was finally possible again when we pulled into my parents’ front drive. I began to open the door to race for the front porch, but a streak of lightning had me slamming the door shut with a squeal as I jumped back into my seat.
“I would wait a minute if I were you.” Derrick peered into the dark sky.
“Ya think?” I laughed, hugging myself and shivering at how close that one had been. We waited in silence for a moment before he spoke again.
“Not to change the subject,” he said, just a bit too casually. “But I’ve been thinking about that list you have.” He turned off the engine and turned to face me, the sound of rain nearly deafening.
“Not you, too.”
He ignored the comment. “Have you ever actually been on a date?”
