Page 43 of Shane
I suck my teeth. “What is with everyone giving me ultimatums today?”
“Who else gave you one?” he sounds annoyed or maybe concerned.
“Never mind that. Just tell me what your terms are, hockey boy.”
“I want you to hang with me on Friday night.”
“As in the day after Thanksgiving?” I ask incredulously.
“That would be correct,” he snickers.
“Hang with you where and why? Isn’t that the day of your party?”
What’s his angle?
“Yeah, I want you to come. I’ll drive over the bridge and pick you up, so don’t worry about that part. The party starts right after the football game, so it will be an early start, like seven.”
“Us hanging out together doesn’t feel like something that will help us achieve our goal, Shane. That isn’t part of the parent trap formula.”
“I swear you are the funniest girl I’ve ever met, and you don’t even realize it,” he laughs. “If I remember correctly, making the parents think we’re on board with the relationship at first is part of the trickery.”
“Ah-hah! So you did watch the movie?”
“You can conduct a Google search for the plot of any movie ever made, Kennedy,” he responds flatly.
“Yeah, but I think you actually watched it,” I tease.
“Do you accept my terms or not?”
“Where is this party?”
“It’s at my friend Kendall’s house. She lives in Pineboro too about ten minutes from me.”
“And who is Kendall?”
“A good friend from high school.”
“Were you ever romantically involved with this Kendall person?”
“Is there any particular reason why you want to know?”
“I’m just asking what seems to be the most logical questions.”
“Or maybe you’re a little jealous?”
“Not even close, hockey boy. I just want to know if you’re using me to make some old flame of yours jealous.”
“Everything is not a romance movie plot, Kennedy. There’s no ulterior motive. It’s just a hang.”
I’m not a huge party person, especially when it comes to unsupervised house parties, which I imagine this is. Still, I want Thanksgiving dinner canceled so badly that I’m willing to be uncomfortable for a few hours to make it happen.
“I just want to understand my role.”
“There is no role for you to play. Like I said, it’s just a hang.”
“Fine, but how do I know your mother will cancel dinner?”
“She’ll tell your dad tomorrow.”