“No.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because if you break up with her then I won’t ever see her anymore! She’s my best friend in the whole world, Jake! If you date her and then break up, I lose my best friend! Why would you ruin that?”
I was surprised by Drake’s outburst. I quickly collected myself and said, “Drake, if we break up, I promise you can still hang out with Emily. I’m sure she would still want to hang out with you.”
“You promise?”
“Cross my heart.” He seemed content with that.
At home, I got Drake into the shower and went to my room to start on homework so I would be finished in time to go get Emily. Thankful that I didn’t have a bunch of work to do, I quickly got started.
“Jake?” I looked up from my work and glanced at the clock. “It’s time for me to go to bed,” Drake continued.
I got up and followed him to his room. “Did you have a good day today?”
“Yeah. The ice cream was the best part,” he said as he climbed into bed.
“I think so too,” I said. Once he was settled, I tucked him in and kissed his forehead. “Goodnight, Drake.”
“Night.”
I turned off the light and closed the door. I flopped onto my bed once and continued with my work. I finished just as eleven rolled around. I quietly made my way downstairs and checked to make sure Dad was in his room. He was passed out on his bed with an old home video of my Mom playing. I closed the door and made my way to Emily’s.
After a few minutes, I texted her and let her know I was outside. Seconds later, she slipped out and walked towards me. I held out my hand and she took it. She gave me a quick peck on the lips and pulled me towards my house. “Anxious are you?”
She giggled and said, “I’m just cold.” She broke off into a run, saying, “Race you!” I took off after her and soon I passed her. She was laughing and I heard her coming closer. “Ow!” I turned around to see her grasping her ankle. I ran back to her and knelt. As soon as I was down, she burst out laughing and took off. That sneaky girl! I ran after her, but she beat me to my house.
I caught her around her waist and held her to me. “That was wrong,” I said, but I was unable to keep the laugh from escaping. She took my hand and led me up to my door with a smile. I opened the door and we snuck upstairs to my room.
I checked on Drake and returned to my room where Emily was laying on my bed, feigning exhaustion. I plopped down beside her on my stomach with my torso on top of her and my elbows propped up on either side of her head. “You are a devious person, Emily.”
She let out a soft giggle and wrapped her arms around my neck. “Well, I felt carefree and full of life. It’s been forever since I have, so I’ll take that comment with no problem.”
I gave her a quick kiss and said, “Well, I’ll take it back then. Hey, about our date Friday…”
I felt her tense under me as she asked, “What about it?”
“I just wanted to tell you that your dad knows and that Drake knows too. He was upset at first.”
“My dad knows? How? Why was Drake upset?”
“Your dad asked me about us while we were ordering ice cream. And Drake asked me if we were because I kissed you on the forehead and he was upset because he thinks if we break up, he won’t see you anymore. He says you’re his best friend.” At that, she smiled. “I promised him that you would still hang out with him.”
“Of course I would. You’ll pick Drake up tomorrow, right?”
I nodded and I pushed a piece of hair away from her face. She locked eyes with me, but soon her eyes dropped to my lips. I loved it when she did that. I couldn’t help but smile. “Hey, you owe me, remember?”
The girl who I’d come to learn was full of surprises despite her past pulled me down to her and kissed me. Her mouth was hot and her tongue slid into my mouth. Her
fingers raked through the hair at the nape of my neck.
I heard a creak in the hallway and pulled away. “Let me go check on Drake,” I said with a heavy breath. I got up and opened my door to see Drake walking towards me. I closed my door and picked him up. “What’s up, buddy?”
He rubbed his eyes and said, “I had a nightmare.”
I took him back to his room and asked him, “How about I lay here with you until you go to sleep?”