Page 67 of Going the Distance
He just groaned in response.
While we waited, Jon came back out with a bottle of water. “Thought I saw you still out here. You want a hand getting him in your car?”
“No, thanks, my dad’s on his way. Rachel took my car. She couldn’t face him.”
“Nothing happened with him and Peggy,” Jon said quickly, earnestly. “She’s a helpless flirt, but Lee kept saying how he had a girlfriend.”
“Thanks.”
“Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
“Thanks, Jon. I appreciate it. I’m sorry I ruined your night.”
“Nah, you didn’t ruin anything.” He grinned at me, then clapped me on the shoulder again. “I’ll see ya.”
I waved as he went back into the house, uncapped the water bottle, and bent down to put it to Lee’s mouth. He took it from me with shaky, fumbling hands, and sipped at it until my dad arrived.
“Please don’t tell my mom” was all Lee could say as my dad hauled him up into the backseat of the car. “Please don’t tell my mom.”
“Buddy, I think you’ve got bigger things to worry about.” My dad sighed. I climbed into the car after Lee, and my dad said, “There’s a bucket on the floor there. Make sure he pukes into the bucket.”
“I’m not gonna puke,” Lee managed. He groaned once we started driving, though, and took the bucket off me, with one more “Please don’t tell my mom.”
