"So, I think you should just let Cam drive us home. He can drop you off and then take me home."
For a long moment Robin just glares at me. He steps forward, stealing the small space between us, and smirks sloppily. "You worried about me, sweetheart?" he whispers.
I nod, because it's the truth.
Robin smiles in earnest, as if I've both surprised and pleased him. He tucks a wayward strand of hair behind my ear. "Foster ain't takin' my date home for me. How about you drive me and then take my car home. I'll have Lace drive me to your place tomorrow, and I can take you to lunch to thank you for being such a thoughtful, sweet, gorgeous girl." He pecks me chastely on the lips.
My grin is impossible to suppress. He's being so reasonable. And sweet. And I know for a fact he never letsanyonedrive his car. Everyone knows it, in fact. He loves it too much.
"You'll let me drive your car?"
His drunken sloppy grin is actually adorable. "I think I will, darlin'."
EIGHT
P R E S E N T D A Y
THE LAST FEWweeks haven't been awful. My calculus grades are up, no doubt thanks to Sam's tutoring me in the library after school twice a week. My AP English teacher agreed to write a letter of recommendation to NYU, and even though it was submitted late, my mom got the admissions office to agree to include it with my application due to my "extenuating circumstances". I applied to a few local safety schools in the city and also here in Long Island, but I absolutelyhaveto get into NYU. Stories of my mother's undergrad experience shine like a beacon in the melancholic gloom of the past year, and it's simply the only option that offers me a future I might actually look forward to. It's why I can't let my grades slip now.
Mr. Frank hands out yesterday's quizzes just before the bell rings to signal the end of first period, and I break out into a small, seated victory dance at my ninety two. Sam peeks over his shoulder at me and I mouth a heartfeltthank you. He tosses me a wink.
Carl pinches my arm like she always does when she notices some exchange between Sam and me she swears is evidence of a secret crush. Sometimes I'm the one with the crush, sometimes it's Sam, but Carl is convinced there's something going on.
She couldn't be more wrong.
In fact, we're still very much just friends, and if I'm honest with myself, in some ways he's become my best friend. I spend most of my social time with Carl, and Tina too usually, and I definitely have a more earnest relationship with them than I ever did with Lacey and the girls down in Linton. But I don't talk to them about the past, and they don't ask. Sam doesn't really know details, of course, but he knows more than anyone else.
Sam lightly elbows me to get my attention as we file out of class, as if he didn't already have it.
"See you at lunch," Carl calls out as she heads toward the gym for phys-ed.
"Told you you were ready for that quiz," Sam boasts. We walk together to our next classes, which happen to be in the same wing.
"You did. You were right," I mock grumble, earning myself a smile and a dimple.Gorgeous.
Sam cups his hand to his ear as if he has trouble hearing. "Come again?"
I roll my eyes.
"Come on, Ror. One more time. You know I earned it."
"Fine... You. Were. Right!"
"Ah, music to my ears," he teases, and I elbow him back from earlier. "Alright, alright," he concedes his gloating.
"But that quiz was small potatoes. I had a rough time with the homework last night, and the chapter test is Friday-"
"I got you, Pine. Don't sweat it," he assures me, patting me on the head like a pet.
He's just teasing me,butI smile. I know Sam can't know how significant it is that I can tolerate these casual touches. Like his patting my head, or when he took my hand to lead me down the hall last week, or the few times he's touched my arm when he thought I might be upset, or even when he playfully elbows me. All friendly, innocent touches, that for me hold a world of meaning. Just a few months ago, a pat on the back from my mother's male co-worker thrust me into a full blown panic attack. But Sam - his touch feels natural, and not only can I tolerate it, but I think I actually find comfort in it.
"See you later," I murmur as I walk into my next class. I sure hope he's right about Friday's test, though, because the coursework has grown increasingly difficult as the weeks have progressed. It's only Tuesday, so at least I have this afternoon and Thursday for him to get the concepts to stick.
When the final bell rings, I head to the library to meet Sam, and find him in the hall, talking to Chelsea. I try to slip by them to wait inside for Sam, but no such luck.
"There she is - your little student," Chelsea announces, forcing me to either stop or come off as rude as I find her. "I was just asking Cap if you're coming to Miami for spring break."
I pause for a beat, bewildered. "Oh. Um, no. I don't think so," I murmur.
