He’s all alone downstairs, while we’re sleeping on beds…
I groan.Why does this make me feel so weird?
I hit my head against my pillow and somehow make my arms lift my body.
I walk down the hallway, down the stairs, and into the living room. He’s fast asleep on one couch and having spasms. I just shake my head and drop my body on the other couch.
I pull a blanket over myself — because I can’t sleep without something on top of me — and close my eyes. The silence is gratifying, and the stillness in my head is rare.
“You just couldn’t stay away from all this raw sexiness, couldn’t you?”
“People who say sexiness aren’t sexy, Jake.”
But still, my heart has to calm itself down for the remaining minutes it takes me to fall into oblivion.
I didn’t realize this was the first time I called him Jake.
23
Stuff Like This Only Happens In The Woods
I wake up and have aheart attack.Jake’s long gone, and in his place, or better than that, sat in front of my drooling face, ismy dad.
“Dad, I thought I told you to stop watching me when I sleep. It’s creepy, and I’m too old for that.”
“You’re my baby, and you’re also not the boss of me. And it’s not creepy if it’s made out of love.”
“Said every stalker ever.”
He ignores me and presses a kiss to my temple. I let him get up just so I can fall asleep again, but noooooo-
“We have a surprise.” My dad tells me excitedly.
Not sure how I’m going to feel about this. My dad is a gem, but the stuff he likes,proactivestuff, going-for-a-run stuff, takes away all my will to enjoy living.
“I don’t know John. I don’t think she’s going to like it.” My aunt eyes him sideways, taking a sip of the morning coffee. Her very own fuel. Oh, yeah, he dragged me to the kitchen.
“Shut up, she’ll like it, I’m in denial.”
“That’s for me to decide.”
I really hope this doesn’t turn out to be like that time we went camping. It was five years ago, and the whole time I was hyping myself up. Saying,It’s fine, it’s only a weekend, but it wasn’t. Friday night was okay, except for the mosquitoes. We sang around the fire like a good ol’American family and ate marshmallows. Saturday was whenthe Westsarrived. We went fishing, hated it; we went for a walk, hated it; we went to get wood, hated it, and at night, when everyone was asleep, I was in my tent when a noise that came from outside startled me. Then it started to shake my tent, and I froze. The zip opened, and Jake roared in front of me, but I pretended to be unimpressed. I won’t admit it to anyone, but he really got me that night. I think I even peed a little.Especiallyhated it. Sunday was the best day, because it was time to pack. I couldn’t stop smiling the whole time, and when we got home, I kissed the floor. Literally.
“You’ll only know what it is when you get there.”
He’s only saying this because he knows that if I don’t like it, I’ll chain myself to a tree, hippie style, so I don’t go. I hate surprises. Not the surprise itself but the suspense. It kills me. And my dad insists on making them because, well, I suspect he’s conspiring with my therapist, and they both want me to let go of control of my life so they torture me like this.
I eat and get dressed. I did these with zero enthusiasm and some beating myself up because my dadreallytries to make us happy.
When I come downstairs, everyone’s ready to go, so we all get in our cars.
“Allison, haven’t seen you in a while.” I say, as soon as I lay eyes on my best friend, sitting by the window. “Ironic considering we’re living in the same house and all.”
“Don’t get me talking. Like I would want to hold the candle while you and Jake canoodle.”
I hit her arm, and she just rolls her eyes playfully.
“I’ve just been… Busy.”
