“And neither am I.” Her eyes turn into half-dollars. “You fill in for Mama Carla this time. Then you think about findin’ something else. You hear?”
“It’s not as easy as you think, Aunt Fee. Where would I go? Have you thought about that?”
“The University pays benefits—all kinds of jobs over there. They’ll be tickled to have you.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“That’s all I can ask.” She takes ahold of my hand, stares at it for a while, then massages my ring finger. “This hand would look a whole lot nicer with somethin’ shiny on top.” She squeezes one eye shut, tilts her head to the side. “I thought of someone else. What about James Pearson?”
After I let my mouth fall open in surprise, like she’s just presented my shining prince on a silver platter, I hold up my left hand and stare at the empty space on my finger. “Fee, that’s such a coincidence. I thought of someone else, too.”
Her eyes sparkle and dance like two kaleidoscopes. “Who’s that?”
I lift the remote from the couch and push play. “Usher.”
TWENTY-TWO
CALI
Bump-bump-bump,the bass pounds through the wall, right next to my bed. My lungs feel like they might explode from the reverb.
“Make it stop,” I say out loud, covering my head with my pillow.
“God, oh God, God, oh God.” Even with the pillow smashed up against my ears I can still hear Big Sean, Annie Laurie’s favorite rapper, like he’s in the room with me.It’s too early for music.Tossing and turning, I fling my pillow around, desperately trying to block the noise.
We pregamed in Ellie and Annie Laurie’s room—it’s become the official pregaming room due to its size—till three thirty in the morning. And now they’re at it again. It’s our first game-day morning in Oxford, and I may as well face it. Sleep is over.
My phone is next to me on the bed. I check the time. God, it’s ten o’clock already. I turn over and Jasmine’s not there. She had spent the previous Friday night with Carl, but when I drifted off to sleep a few hours ago she was in the bed next to mine. My phone rings while it’s still in my hand. The music blasts even louder as I say, “Hello.”
“Hey,” Ellie says, all bright and cheery. “Where are you? We’re pregaming over here.”
“I can tell.Uhhh,I feel like I just fell asleep,” I say with a frog in my throat. A flash of nausea rushes through my stomach. “And I don’t feel all that great.”
“Me, either. And we didn’t even drink all that much.”
“I think it’s all the crap we ate. Too many Cheez-Its gets me every time.” Maybe I’m fooling myself. It could have been the bourbon. Either way, I’m swearing off both for the next month. Well, the next week. “When are we meeting your parents?”
“In three hours. Still wanna borrow my dress?”
I sit straight up. “Yes, is that still okay?”
“Of course. Come get it.”
“Sweet. Be there in five.”
As soon as Ellie mentioned borrowing her dress, a burst of energy collided with the queasiness in my gut, and now I’m raring to go. Last July, before school started, I had driven to Tupelo, forty-five minutes away, and bought two cute dresses at Reed’s. But I really want to save them for Rush.
I jump out of bed and head for the bathroom. Every single shower is running and each sink is occupied with girls brushing their teeth or washing their faces. As I wait for a toilet, I daydream about the day ahead. I knew I’d be excited about our first home football game, but never dreamed I’d actually get to go. Ellie’s parents had two extra tickets and she invited me to come along. I asked her why she didn’t invite Annie Laurie instead, and she said the Whitmores had tons of season tickets so Annie Laurie would be sitting with them.
When I push open the door to their room, Annie Laurie’s in front of her makeup mirror. Her hair is already perfect, flat-ironed straight and hanging down her back, about six inches from her butt. She’s wearing the cutest romper I’ve ever laid my eyes on—a pale blue V-neck, with eyelets and sleeves that brush the tops of her elbows. That pretty white-gold jewelry, that Yurman she always wears, matches perfectly with a blue gemstone dangling from her neck. Honestly, she looks stunning, with the exception of her dark eye shadow, thick black eyeliner, and heavy base. I don’t get that, guess I never will.
Ellie’s still in her pajamas with her hair in a messy bun on top of her head, texting. As soon as she sees me, she puts down her phone, leaps over to her closet, and pulls out the cutest red sundress ever, with a high halter neckline and a keyhole back. She holds it up to my front, still on the hanger. “Ole Missred,” she says, extra loud so I can hear her over the music. “It’s gonna fit you perfect. But try it on real quick and see.”
“Here?”
“Sure, why not?”
I strip off my T-shirt and boxer shorts and slip into Ellie’s dress. By now, my modesty is waning. As soon as her dress touches my skin I already know it’s perfect. I can feel myself smiling. And the excitement about today bubbling up inside.
