Page 117 of Missed Notes (Rixon High 5)

“I get it now,” she whispered.

“Get what?”

“Oh, nothing.” Her cheeks pinked. “Just something Poppy said.”

“And what did Poppy say?”

“Nothing.” A shy smirk tugged at her mouth.

“Fine.” I kissed her. “Keep your secrets. I should probably get you home before your dad sends a search party.”

“He’s all talk.” Sofia clambered back over to the passenger seat and plopped down with a soft sigh.

“Still, not sure I want to take my chances. Are you feeling nervous about the procedure?”

“I’m trying not to think about it.”

“Do you… want me to come with you?”

“Oh no, I wouldn’t expect you to do that.”

“Hey.” I took her hand across the center console. “I want to be there. As much or as little as you need me.”

“You’d really come with me?”

“Of course I would.”

Her expression fell. “What would we tell Aaron?”

“Shit, yeah. I guess that could be a problem.”

“I’ll be okay. Mom said she can take some time off work. So I won’t be alone. But thank you. It means a lot that you’d want to come with me.”

“Sofia,” I chuckled. “I’m in this thing. All in.”

“Yeah.” She grinned over at me. “I’m starting to get that.”

* * *

By the timethe mixer rolled around, I was starting to think that I should have told my father before now that I wasn’t going to be attending Drexel.

But it was too late now.

At least, he’d agreed to let me and Sofia drive up separately.

We arrived at the hotel a little after five. I pulled into the underground parking lot and found a spot.

“At least we don’t have to be there until seven thirty,” she said.

“Yeah.”

“You can still pull out, Cole. We can turn around right now and go back to Rixon and go hang out with everyone in the man cave.”

“You’d do it too, wouldn’t you?”

She nodded. “I don’t like seeing you so uncomfortable.”

“It’s one night. I’ll survive. I’m just sorry you have to experience Curtis Kandon in all his asshole glory.”

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