“Yeah, I do. We’re besties, remember?”
We hug for a moment more before she pulls away. Laughing, she wipes my tears from my face. “Don’t cry.”
“No one has ever offered to do something like that for me.”
“Well, that just means you’re around shitty people.”
“Do you think we can make enough to get her a hotel?”
She waves me off. “My mom has a huge house all to herself. I know she would love the company.”
My heart can’t take it. “Your mom doesn’t know me, much less my mom.”
“Oh, she will, and she will insist. Don’t worry.”
A lump forms in my throat. “What if she has her walker? Will she be able to get around?”
Amelia nods eagerly. “Yeah, the whole downstairs is wheelchair accessible. Because of my dad and all.”
I feel like a dumbass. “Shit, I’m sorry. I forgot.” My heart drops at the pure pain that swirls in her eyes, but she waves me off.
“No big. How are you supposed to remember that?”
“I know, but still. I don’t want to upset you, not after all you’re offering to do for me.”
She waves me off once more, shaking her head. “I’m fine, really.”
I know how much it hurts her to talk about her dad in general and especially how it all was in the end. She’s told me a bit, but usually, she gets too choked up to finish. Her dad, James, was not only an amazing guy but one handsome man. Even when he was dying, he still had this light in his eyes in all the pictures I’ve seen of her and him. She misses him a lot, and I wish there were a way I could help her the way she is helping me.
It dawns on me. “We should go to the gym tomorrow morning.”
She sits up. “Really? Think Damien or Melissa will mind?”
“Not at all. I’ll text them.”
“Really? Wait, so I guess that means we can’t get too wild tonight.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?” I pull in my brows as she gives me a slightly exasperated look.
“Sofia, the Bullies’ party, remember?”
I roll my eyes as I lie back in my bed. I’m still nervous about my mom. I probably will be until I have the ticket and I know she won’t drive, which is why the Bullies’ party is the last thing on my mind. “I’m not going to that. I am beat. You’re beat.”
She shrugs but shakes her head. “Sure, but we have to go. We’re gonna be, like, celebrities in there with how awesome we did today. Everyone is going.”
Last thing I want. “I’m good,” I say, opening my to-go box. “And you should stay in too since we’re going to work beam tomorrow.”
She looks torn as I pop a fry into my mouth, and I smile when she looks up at me. “Please, Sofia. Go with me.”
“But I don’t want to. Don’t give me that look,” I plead, and she laughs as she flutters her lashes at me, begging me with her eyes.
“Only for an hour.”
“No, ’cause it’s gonna take us hours to get ready.”
“Please, I want to go, and I told Ryan I’d introduce you to him.”
I scrunch up my face. “Ryan? Your brother, Ryan?”
Please Lord, let her say no. Please.
“Yes, my brother.” Damn it. “He wants to meet you.”
No, no, no, no. “Why?”
“He thinks you’re all that and a bag of chips, I guess.”
Crap on a cracker. I scrunch up my own face, going for totally aloof. “What? No, he doesn’t.”
“Yes, he does!” I give her a disbelieving look, and she just stares at me. “Really, he’s agreed to introduce me to his linemate, Moon, the really hot one, if I do the same for him with you.”
I blink. “For what?”
“I don’t know. Pretty sure to hook up? Date? No telling. The possibilities are endless.”
This is not good. “The possibilities are endless?”
“Oh yeah,” she gushes, shaking her head. “Shelli said he was practically drooling over you at the meet.”
Crap. “No way.”
“Yeah, so come on. Go.”