“To invite him to the party.”
“Should you talk to Chloe first?”
“She’ll say no. If I’m angry and bitter, Chloe is closed off and indifferent. Trust me, we’re better off if he just shows up without her knowing.”
“Are you sure?”
“No.” But it’s a chance I’m willing to take if it’ll bring her some form of closure.
I climb out of the truck. When I get to the front door, I look back at Adley, and she gives me a thumbs up.
Without knocking I open the door. Dad’s head snaps up.
“Did you forget something?” he asks.
“Uh, yeah…” I need to do something with my hands, so I shove them in my pockets. “Rose is throwing Chloe a graduation party this Saturd
ay. I was wondering if you’d like to come.”
His breath hitches, and I watch his eyes widen. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
I nod. “Good. You can ride with me.”
21
Adley
“I’m done,” I whine, dropping my head on the table.
Abby and I arrived at the library at eight o’clock this morning, scheduled our state boards, and have been studying ever since. My brain is fried, I’m exhausted, and did I mention my brain is fried? After I take this test, I’m going to sleep for days.
“Oh no you’re not.” Abby grabs my ponytail and pulls my head out of the textbook. “We’ve still got women’s health to study.”
“I can’t. I’m so tired I can’t see straight. Literally. My vision is going wonky from staring at these stupid books all day.”
“Come on, I’ll go through some review questions with you, and then you can quiz me.”
“What do I get if I agree to this?”
“Besides being prepared?”
I nod, and she rolls her eyes.
“I’ll take you to Ricardo’s for a pizza.”
“Sold.” I shove the study guide over to Abby and close my eyes as she asks the first question.
“Define infertility.”
“Inability to conceive after one year of regular intercourse, two to three times a week without using contraception.”
“Good. List three things that can alter a man’s fertility.”
“STDs. Radiation or chemotherapy. And…elevated scrotal temperature due to tight-fitting underwear.”
“And alcohol,” she adds.
“You said three things. I gave you three things.”