I burst into laughter. “Jamie? As in my imaginary brother, Jamie?” I snort and laugh.
“Yes, he’s hot now that he’s older, you know,” she says with a huge grin.
“I can’t believe you remember that. Ugh, I wanted siblings so bad,” I groan.
“That’s why I shared mine. I wanted them to love you as much as I did. I didn’t know one would fallinlove with you. Scratch that. Make that two. Poor Eddy.”
I turn to look over at Eddy talking to Garret and Baker. His little face is so long, like he just lost his best friend. He sees me looking at him and turns away quickly.
I catch Baker’s eye, and he gives me a little grin. He’s Bentley’s best friend from back home. I’m not surprised he came in with the family. Baker is to Bentley as Erica is to me.
“My little buddy is mad at me. Do you think he’s canceling all his plans to take me to senior prom?”
“Probably, but he’ll be over it in nine years. You’ll be married and having little nieces and nephews for us by then.”
I laugh and tug her into a hug. I’m so relieved that she’s okay with this. I was most worried about how she would feel.
“I should talk to him,” I say.
“Nope, you should come with me to get something to eat. The parents are okay with it, but they still plan to drill you at dinner. You probably won’t be able to eat a thing. It would be wise to get something down now.”
I palm my face. I know she’s right. My parents are just waiting to get me cornered.
“Fine, let’s grab something now.”
***
“Zah,I’m not going to lie and say I’m surprised about this,” my mother says as we all sit at dinner.
The Coswell kids were all sent off to the Arcade next door, while Bentley and I were asked to stay to talk. Bentley reaches for my hand under the table and links our fingers together. His palm is sweaty, telling me he’s as nervous as I am.
“I am,” our dads say in unison.
“Bill, you mean to tell me you have never noticed the way Bentley looks at Zah or how he can’t keep his foot out of his mouth around her?” Mrs. Coswell laughs.
“And Kerry, you have never seen how Zah gets stars in her eyes when she looks at Bent. We didn’t even know she was applying to come here until the last minute. I saw this coming a mile away.”
“Well, I’ll be,” Daddy says, dragging a hand down his face.
“I think what your fathers really want to say is we’re happy for the both of you. Our main concern is whether or not the two of you are being safe,” Mrs. Coswell says.
“And don’t give us that look. We know you two are having sex. We saw that kiss and the way Bent couldn’t keep his hands off you,” my mother says as she gives us that knowing mom look.
“Just kill me now,” I mutter as I try to shrink into myself.
Bentley chuckles and leans over to kiss the side of my head. I pinch him under the table. This is so embarrassing.
“We’re always safe. Zah and I are both focused on school and our respective sports. We do have a sexual relationship, but we aren’t indulging as much as you think.”
“If your coach didn’t rave about your grades and the increase in your film time this year, I wouldn’t believe you,” Mr. Coswell says.
“I really don’t want to talk about you deflowering my baby girl,” my father grumbles.
“Oh, get over it, honey. She’s becoming a woman, and I couldn’t be happier with her choice.”
“I like Bent too, but they’re still so young. So much can happen. Life hasn’t begun to challenge them yet.”
“That’s why I love this for them. We will be here to guide them. They will always have us,” Mom says with a smile.
