2. YOU GET TO LEAVE THE COAST.
3. HAVE YOU EVER EVEN LEFT THE COAST?
4. I’LL LET YOU DRIVE THE CADDY.
5. YOU CAN MEET VIV. YOU GUYS WILL LOVE EACH OTHER!
6. AND THE REST OF MY SWIM TEAM FROM BACK HOME.
7. HOT GIRLS. I KNOW LOTS OF THEM.
8. I WILL PAY FOR ALL YOUR MEALS.
9. YOU’RE A GOOD FRIEND.
I grin and try to fold the paper back the same way it was given to me, but give up and stuff it in my pocket. Under the cover of my desk, I text Charlie about my paper routethis weekend to see if anyone can cover.
A few seconds later, he responds.I’ll check with my little bro, he says.
When the bell rings, Freddie follows close on my heels with Adam behind. “Well?”
“I’m working on it,” I say.
He nods and bounces on his toes a little.
“Working on what?” asks Adam. “Your strokes?”
“Ugh.” Freddie shoves him.
Adam turns to him innocently. “What? I know you’ve been getting up early to stroke it.”
“Swim strokes,” Freddie says. “Swim strokes, you perv.”
I turn to Adam, grinning. “Nope. He got a membership at the YMCA to practice his strokes. TheMstands for masturbation, obviously.”
“You’re both filthy human beings,” says Freddie. “Oh, wait. Adam, you think you could cover my shift this Saturday?”
Adam groans, his head rolling to the side.
Freddie grips his shoulder. “Come on, man.”
“My mom’s gonna make me cover your shift either way.” Adam turns to head to his next class. “You owe me!”
Still following me, Freddie asks, “So did my list sway you?”
I stop and turn to him. “Your next class is on the other side of the building. And I will let you know as soon as I know. Chill out, okay?”
He stomps off like a toddler, but in a half-joking way.
“What was that all about?” asks Ruth as she emergesfrom a neighboring hallway.
I turn to follow her, still laughing at Freddie. “Cute boy not getting his way.”
“He knows you’re not exactly his target audience, right?”
I shrug. “Cute is cute.”
Her upper lip curls. “Yeah. Nope.”
