“Oral report.”
“You’ll do fine.”
“Maybe, but that doesn’t make me any more willing to do it.” I shook my head and took another bite of my sandwich.
My cell phone started vibrating in my pocket. I reached for it and answered, hearing Drake’s voice. “Jake, can you come get me? I’m ready. Can we go see Emily today? Can we go get ice cream?”
“Calm down, buddy,” I said with a laugh. “Yeah, I’ll be right over. We can see Emily, but she’s not feeling well. You will have to be extra good and watch TV, okay?”
“Okay. Are you leaving right now?”
“Yep.”
“Okay. Bye, Jake. I love you.”
“I love you too, buddy.” I closed my phone and returned it to my pocket. I finished my sandwich and told Emily the plan. She kept eating slowly. I kissed her forehead when I got up and felt that it was warm again. “Take some medicine while I’m gone. You’re fever is back.” Emily nodded and I left to go get Drake.
When Mike came home around six, Emily and I were lying on the couch under her blanket and Drake was sitting in the recliner to the left of us. Mike checked Emily for a fever before sitting in the recliner to the right of us. Emily hadn’t thrown up as much as she did yesterday and she seemed to be in better spirits.
I had constantly run my fingers down her neck, down her arm, and up her back. Every now and again, she would grab my hand and hold it in place for a few minutes. We had been watching cartoons all day because Emily insisted that Drake could watch whatever he wanted to.
Emily’s cell phone buzzed from the side table. I grabbed it for her and saw the word Mom on the screen. I held it out for Mike to take and Emily rolled over to bury her face in my chest. Mike stepped outside to talk to her mom. Couldn’t she just leave her alone? Emily’s arms wrapped around me and she held on as if her life depended on it. Mike didn’t come in until an hour later he had a grim look on his face.
“Em, I got to get Drake home,” I told her softly.
“I don’t want you to go,” she whispered into my chest.
My heart cracked and I hugged her tighter to me. “I don’t want to go either, but I need to get him fed and ready for bed. All you have to do is call me, okay?” She took a deep breath and released me.
She stood up so I could get up. Standing, I put my arms around her again and kissed her forehead. “If you need me, just call me.” I told her again.
“I’ll see you later,” she whispered.
17
Emily
After Jake and Drake left, I let my dad keep my phone and I went to my room to lie down. Even though I didn’t talk to my mom, it was all I could think about. What did she want now? What will she do next? I bit my lip and fell asleep full of worry.
I woke up the next morning still not feeling well, so I got to spend the day lying on the couch watching TV. On and off I slept and when seven thirty rolled around, Jake stopped by to see me. My dad informed me that he had to go out of town for the night. He offered to stay home, but I made him go. Jake offered to stay with me, but I made him go home too. Jake and Drake went home around eight thirty and Dad left a few minutes later.
It was just Jerry Springer and I for the night. Everything was peaceful until nine, then I texted Jake to see if I could go over to his house.
Of course, he replied. I grabbed my keys and drove over there.
He opened the door before I could knock. He greeted me with a kiss on the forehead and I took in his shirtless body and his gray pajama pants. He looked delicious. Drake was already in bed and his dad wasn’t home. He led me to his room and I crawled into his bed. He climbed in and brought me to him. “How’s it going, Sweetness?”
“As good as it can go, I guess.” I buried my face in the crook of his neck. “Can I stay here tonight?” I asked quietly.
“Of course.”
“Sweetness,” Jake whispered his new nickname for me. I snuggled closer to him and he chuckled. “Time to wake up.”
“No,” I moaned. I looked up at him with his hair all messed up and he looked so good. I placed a kiss on his lips, just as Drake walked in.
“Emily? What are you doing here?” He asked, excitement filling his voice as he ran over and hopped into bed with us. He made his way between Jake and me.
“Drake,” Jake began in a stern voice.