But then again, I haven’t seen Jake in a while, and it would be nice to hang out with him and hear what he’s been up to. I’ll even tolerate his sweet girlfriend hanging around. Those two ar
e connected at the hip, I swear. You rarely see Jake without Hannah.
My decision made, I head down the hall, pausing in front of Gracie’s door before I knock lightly.
“Come in.”
I push open the door to see she’s pulled all of her new clothes out of the shopping bag and they’re strewn on top of her unmade bed. Since living with her, I’ve realized Gracie is kind of messy. She has issues with laundry. As in, she hates doing it. Folding it. Putting it away.
“Are you going tonight?” I ask her.
She slowly shakes her head as she contemplates her new clothes. “I don’t think so. I’m not in the mood to hang out and drink. I’m really tired. Plus, we work early tomorrow.”
“I know. I was thinking the same thing.” I lean against the doorjamb, watching her. She’s moving kind of slow, favoring one side. Almost as if she’s in…pain? “But if we went, we’d be that much closer to the lake. And work.”
Gracie pauses, glancing over at me. “Where are Jake and Hannah staying?”
“I don’t know. Hey Eli!” I scream, making Gracie wince. “Where’s the cabin at that Jake’s in?”
“At The Pines,” he yells in answer.
“That’s on the other side of the lake,” she points out to me.
“We’d still be closer than we are if we stayed here,” I remind her. “We’ll stay the night. I’m sure Jake won’t mind.”
She slumps her shoulders, a weary sigh escaping her. “Please don’t make me go.”
“Why not? You’re always down to party,” I say to entice her.
“Not tonight.”
“What about Hayden? Your homegirl will be there,” I say to entice her.
That brightens her up a little bit. “She will?”
I nod. “That’s what Eli said.”
Another sigh leaves her. “It’s almost eight.”
“Okay grandma, and so?”
“When would we leave?” She rests her hands on her hips, looking sassy. Looking more like her usual self.
“Eli said in an hour,” I answer.
“We wouldn’t be at the lake until ten,” she points out.
“Just in time for the party to really be hopping.” I rub my hands together in anticipation, smiling big.
She slowly shakes her head. “It’s a bad idea.”
“A little get-together is never a bad idea. Come on, G. Just go. I’ll drive and you can ride to work with me in the morning,” I suggest.
“What about Eli?”
“He’ll end up staying with Ava. She’ll get him home. Don’t worry about him,” I say because it’s true.
“You should consider being a lawyer. You’re very persuasive, Caleb,” she says, rolling her eyes. “Fine. I’ll go.”