Page 56 of Road Trip

“In case of what?” he asked. And before I could tell him to mind his own business, Mrs. Mercer was right beside us. Her forehead had exactly the same suspicious crease that Jacob’s did.

“In case ofwhat, Matthew?” she asked too, and shit, I wasn’t sure I could lie to Jacob’s mom. Actually, scratch that. I was onehundred percent sure I couldn't lie to Jacob’s mom. I’d probably burst into flames or something.

I swallowed. Was there a way to sayin case nobody has room for mewithout sounding like a fucking loser? Asking for me.

In the end I settled on, “I’m not sure my mom is expecting me.”

“No, but she texted you the other day, right?” Jacob said. “After…”

After my dad swept me off his porch like I was dogshit.

“Yeah.” I flashed a weak smile at Mrs. Mercer and shrugged. “But, um, I haven’t heard from her since then. And there’s a possibility that Zeke has moved in with his guitar collection. I mean, he can move some stuff if he has. It’s no big deal.”

Oh wow. Turned out Icouldlie to Jacob’s mom after all. Just not very convincingly.

“If it’s no big deal, why do you want the tent?” Jacob asked.

“Dude, are youhomelessright now?” Luke asked, wide-eyed.

“Nobody is homeless,” Mr. Mercer said firmly.

“Lots of people are,” Luke said. “Like, it’s abigproblem, Dad.”

Mr. Mercer pinched the bridge of his nose. “Grab a bag and go inside, Luke. Boys, you go inside too and get cleaned up for dinner. I’m going to go over and apologize to Mrs. Pope for Luke yellingdickwadsloud enough for the whole neighborhood to hear.”

“Watch out for her hose,” Mrs. Mercer said and then leveled a stare at Jacob and me. “Come on, inside with you two.”

Jacob picked up his backpack and went inside, and I followed him up the stairs to his room. He dropped his bag on the floor and turned to face me. “Were you really going to camp out?”

I shrugged. “Only as a last resort. Like, she’s probably just freezing me out right now because she’s pissed.”

“Jesus, Matty.” His face twisted up, but he looked hurt, not angry. “Why didn’t you tell me you didn’t know if you could move back home? Why don’t you tell me this stuff? This is likeyour dad again! I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s wrong!”

I didn’t tell him because I didn’t want to be his loser boyfriend, someone he had to rescue all the time. I didn’t know how to explain it, but I did my best. “Because you’re all I have! And if I keep fucking up, you won’t want me either!”

Either.

I wished I could pull that word back the second it was out of my mouth. I saw the moment it registered with Jacob. The way his eyes widened with understanding and with pity, which was the last fucking thing I wanted. But I didn’t even have time to tell him to keep it to himself before he pulled me into a hug and squeezed me tightly.

“You’re my boyfriend,” he said. “And you’re my best friend. I willalwayswant you.”

I buried my face against his chest and let myself be held. Jacob was right. He’d always been there, whenever I needed him. I could throw rocks at his window at 2:00 a.m. and he’d appear, like a genie coming out of a lamp.

I took a deep breath. “You’ll want me all the way from ODU, I guess.”

“It’s only an hour away.”

“But you won’t behere.”

Jacob let out an unhappy sound, but what could he say when he knew I was right? He wouldn’t be coming home every night. And he wouldn’t be coming home most weekends either, because he’d have study, and whatever part-time job he got, andfriends.

It was only an hour, but it might as well have been the difference between here and California all over again.

It wasn’t fair of me to bring it up, but it wasn’t like it was news. Water was wet, Jacob was leaving, and everything sucked. The only good thing in my life right now was that Jacobdidwant me, and he’d told me he loved me.

“Dinner!” Mr. Mercer called from downstairs.

Jacob pressed a kiss to my forehead before letting me go. Weheaded downstairs, me trailing after him. I ran my fingertips along the wall, an ache in my chest as I thought of how many times I’d done this and how, when Jacob was at college, I wouldn’t just be able to turn up like a stray dog whenever I wanted. Mrs. Pope across the street would probably turn her hose on me—if Mrs. Mercer didn’t first.

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