Page 86 of The Disasters of Dating
That sounds great.
I can almost hear her sigh with relief.
Maybe I’m moving things too fast for her. After all, we’ve only known each other for a couple of weeks. I knead my brow with my fingers. Has it only been two weeks? Man, I feel like I’ve known her for months. Can my feelings for her be so strong after such a short time? I think back to the feeling I had when I thought I might not see her this week. Apparently my feelings don’t give a hoot about time. Because they seem to get stronger every day.
CHAPTER 25
POPPY
You will be very productive over the next few days, according to your Cosmic chart. But don’t overdo it. Take one task at a time and only move on to the next thing when it feels right.
I leaninto the fridge and pull out some containers of food. I have no recollection of eating it in the first place. Although, to be fair, I’m not around for most dinners. So for all I know, my mom could have made this last night.
I cautiously open the lid and peer inside. I’ve learned not to tear into things willy-nilly. It only takes one time of spoiled Alfredo sauce spraying all over your face, hair, and shirt to make one cautious. I can still smell it when I think about it. It’s not pleasant. I move over to the cupboard by the fridge and grab a roller bottle of lavender oil and rub a dot under my nose. Much better.
I continue with the fridge cleaning. School starts next week, so I need to get some of these chores done that I’ve been promising my mom I’d get to.
The garage door opens, and my mom walks in.
I look up over the fridge door. “Hey, Mom. What are you doing home?”
She smiles at me. “I thought maybe we could go to lunch? I haven’t seen you much lately, and I know you start school next week.” She looks at the containers and puts them all in the sink with a grimace.
I have a tug of guilt that I’m going with Keaton tonight instead of spending time with her. I hadn’t even asked her about our weekly hangout tonight. She has turned me down so many times in the last month, I’m kind of out of the habit. Which is so weird to me. A twelve-year habit—it used to be a family hangout when Brody and Sadie lived at home—has gone by the wayside in the matter of a month. Way to go, book club and food drive. I internally grimace, feeling a little guilty for blaming people who are going hungry.
“I’d love to go to lunch. And about tonight?—”
Mom grimaces. “I know it’s supposed to be our night, but it was the only night everyone on the food drive committee could meet.”
I smile. “It’s okay, Mom. I have plans, too.”
She perks up. “Oh?”
I nod. “Yeah. I’m going to get ice cream with a friend.”
“A ‘friend’?” She gives me a sly look, which is not flattering on her.
“Yes, Mom. A friend.”
She raises a knowing brow but lets it drop. “Just ice cream?”
I bounce my shoulder. “I’m not sure. We’re going to Suedeman’s, which you know how long those lines can be on a Monday night.” I tilt my head to the side. “Maybe we’ll do something afterwards. I don’t know his plans yet.”
My mom gives me another weird, sly look. “‘His’?”
I roll my eyes at her ridiculousness. Was she like this with Sadie and Max? I’d ask, but then I’ll have to get crap from Sadie—and listen to her talk about Max. Hard pass on both fronts. Besides, the information I may get likely won’t be worth the price.
She smiles. “Then you’re okay if I have the house tonight? I told the committee that we could meet here.”
I nod. “Sure thing. I’ll stay out of your hair.”
Mom looks relieved. Am I that difficult to have around? It’s not like I’m a toddler or a moody teenager. “Great. I knew you wouldn’t mind.”
I give her a look. I still have questions and concerns about this so-called food drive committee, but I will give her the benefit of the doubt. She’s given it to me plenty of times over the years.
“How much time do you have for lunch? Do I have enough time to empty these containers, load them in the dishwasher, and take out the garbage before we go? If not, I will do it when we get home.” My nose flares slightly at the thought of the percolating smells that will greet me if I wait.
Mom pushes up her sleeves. “I don’t have another client until 2. Ifwe work together, we can do this in no time and still have plenty of time for lunch.”
