Page 32 of From Me to You
Aunty M walked in. “Let me help you.”
“Yes please.” I sighed as I gave up.
In no time, she picked out three different outfits that she mismatched together and asked me to try them on. The first onewas a cut-off style black shorts with a tight black T-shirt. The second one was a baby doll-style yellow dress. And the last one was a simple red skirt with a slit that she paired with a white crop top. Somehow, they all looked flattering on me.
“I don’t know what I would do without you, Aunty M.” I kissed her cheek. “You are a Godsend.”
“You wouldn’t be able to tell right from left without me, hun.” She joked as she helped me pack the rest of my things. I took some makeup and some essentials, PJs, an extra pair of jeans, and a T-shirt.
I heard a ping on my phone about an hour later. Katy texted me that she was waiting outside of Jay’s, where we had all decided to meet.
“Aunty M, I am leaving!” I yelled as I made my way downstairs with a small weekend bag.
“Bye, hun. Have fun, but not too much fun, if you know what I mean. Call me when you get there.”
“I will. I love you.” I rolled my eyes as I hugged her. Even though I turned eighteen last week, Aunty M still wouldn’t stop parenting me. But secretly my heart loved her for that.
“I love you too.”
I carried my bag to Jay’s house, which was only a couple of minutes away from mine. I had been inside his house a few times. It was a modest white house, with the front yard littered with beautiful flowers. He told me his mom loved gardening. I still hadn’t met his parents yet, thankfully they had been busy traveling this past year. Now that they were back, Jay relentlessly tried to invite me for dinner. I kept evading him because I was too nervous to meet them. Jay let it slide but I knew it wouldn’t be much longer before he dragged me to his house.
I walked up to find the entire gang standing by the driveway. We were driving up in two cars because one wouldn’t fit all of us and the equipment.
Jay rushed to me. “Hey, sweetheart.” He kissed the side of my head, taking the bag from me as we walked over to the others.
I linked my arm with him, leaning onto his shoulders as I waved to everyone.
Katy announced that the girls would be in one car and the guys in another, which Jay and Lan protested. But she wouldn’t have it because when Katy decided something—she made it happen no matter what.
Although I would miss Jay, I looked forward to spending more time with the girls.
Jay held open the door of Katy’s car for me to get in.
I settled in the back seat with my bag next to me.
Jay leaned in and gave me a long, soft kiss, gripping the back of my head. He pressed his forehead against mine. “Be safe and keep your phone with you. We will be right behind you.”
I nodded.
“Wait,” he said as he rushed into the garage door at the side of his house. It was his room/practice space. He came out holding a white Styrofoam cup.
“Here.” He handed it to me. “I bought coffee for you.”
“You should learn from him, Lan. Look how cute he is! He brought her coffee while you drank all my coffee, you pig,” Katy chided Lan from the driver’s seat.
Lan, who was leaning in on her window, mumbled sorry and gave her a kiss that shut her up.
“You fools are so pussy-whipped,” Mikey shouted.
I dug into my bag and took out a brown box and strawberry milk. “I made you brownies.” I handed them to Jay.
Jay gave me the softest smile as he took them for me and held them as if they were the most precious gift he had ever received. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
“Drive carefully,” I told him.
“I will,” he said as the guys made their way to the truck.
Lily settled in the front passenger seat, and soon we were cruising through the highway. Not before we stopped at Lola’s because Katy wanted her chocolate milkshake of the day. She asked Luie to fill up her large takeaway cup.