It feels ridiculous to say, it feels like it’s way too strong a statement for the friendship that Jamie and I have right now … but it feels like, with Jamie by my side, I could do just about anything.
The thought has a shiver of uncertainty scurrying down my back. It’s like just thinking that thought is biting off more than I can chew. But it’s exactly what I feel when I imagine him beside me as I face down a stressful situation.
After all, Jamie’s only ever made me feel supported and accepted when I’ve spent time with him. His implicit belief and faith in me have been a kind of encouragement that I’ve never experienced before.
The bells above the door ring again. I look past my parents to see the customer who just entered.
My heart bounces.
It’s Jamie.
His smile is so bright and warm as our eyes lock. I feel a rush of confidence just from having him a couple yards in front of me, on the other side of this counter. The dinner with my parents doesn’t feel daunting anymore. Nothing feels daunting anymore. Not when he’s near.
If I ask him to come to dinner with my parents, he will. There’s not a doubt in my mind.
But how would I make that make sense to my parents?Hey, Mom and Dad, I’m going to invite Jamie to dinner with us. He’s a friendly acquaintance I’ve hung out with a couple times over the last few weeks. Oh, and I’m about to offer to take his virginity because I think it might help my writer’s block.
Forget about them disapproving of me trying to be a writer. They’d get to work on having me committed. With my mom’s connections in the medical industry and my dad’s ability to navigate the legal system, they’d probably pull it off.
But there’s one case where it would make all the sense in the world to invite Jamie.
My common sense and better judgment must be on strike right now. Maybe I need to let them unionize and offer them better healthcare or something, because they’re nowhere to be seen when I need them.
In their absence, I let the ridiculous idea fly out of my mouth.
“Mom, Dad, this is Jamie.”
They turn to take in the bewildered hockey player standing a couple paces behind them.
“My boyfriend.”
His jaw drops.
21
CARMEN
“Your boyfriend.”
Jamie looks borderline catatonic. Shell-shocked. Has he been walking around like this all day?
We’re in my apartment. I texted him to meet me after my shift at Last Word to bring him up to speed on what I lassoed him into. Luckily, my parents had to hurry to their conference, so didn’t have any time to press him with questions. After I introduced Jamie as my boyfriend, we just set the time and place for dinner, and they went to their car.
Jamie’s eyes are bright green rings, brimming with excitement even as disbelief remains etched on his face.
“I know I should have asked you first,” I say, feeling guilty.
Jamie’s lips curl high into a smile. “Do you want to ask me to be your boyfriend right now?”
I lower my brow, not in the mood for joking. “It’s just for dinner with my parents. I figure if they believe I have a boyfriend and a real life here in Cedar Shade, they won’t jump down my throat about going back to my old school and staying Pre-Med.”
A post-hoc justification. I don’t want to admit to Jamie that my real motivation is how confident, supported, and capable he makes me feel whenever I’m near him.
He still wears a shine of giddiness.
“Your boyfriend,” he says again, as if repeating the phrase is like a hit of a drug.
I want to beam an annoyed look at him so he can snap out of it and we can actually talk about pulling this off, but I can’t bring myself to do it. For one, because he’s doing me a big favor by playing along; and secondly, because he’s far too cute right now.
