“She must think I’m a pervert or something.” I groaned, leaning my head against Bradley’s shoulder, a minute or two after Katy left us. He rubbed my shoulders and laughed slightly.
“I don’t think she does. She only needs to settle the idea in. It’s not that creepy, it’s just everyone that makes it the whole lot creepier.”
“Maybe, I don’t know.”
“Hey, Hell.” he poked my rib and I looked at his face.
“What?”
“Do you think this is wrong?”
“Yes, it’s wrong.”
His expression fell apart and I rushed to complete my sentence. “But who said I give a damn about what everyone thinks?”
A beautiful smile lit up his face, and before I could stop him, his lips were crushed against mine.
“Brad! We’re in my backyard!”
“Who said I give a damn?” he kissed my neck, mimicking me.
“Very funny, man. Come on inside, I wanna eat.”
Brad followed me inside and we found my mom putting the groceries over the counter.
“Good morning, Heloise. You too, Brad.” she smiled, planting a kiss in my forehead and his.
“Morning, mom. What did you bring me?”
“I brought donuts-“
“DONUTS? WHERE?”
“The second bag there.” she pointed to the kitchen table and I opened the package, delighting myself.
The curly-haired boy just stood in the middle of the kitchen, his mouth widened.
“What did just happen?”
“Heloise doesn’t eat in over 12 hours. That’s what happened.” my mom answered him and we laughed.
“That is so unfair! 12 hours! Y’all talk like it’s a sin to be hungry.” I said, my mouth stuffed.
“Please, honey, didn’t I teach you that it’s not nice to speak while you’re eating? And did you said “y’all”?”
“Yes, I did. I have friends in America, you know.”
“Oh, your mystery internet friends.”
“Yes, one of them is from Texas.”
“So she lives close to your auntie?”
“My auntie?”
“Yeah, your auntie, Lynn. She lives in Texas.”
“Does she? Awesome!”
“I was thinking about calling her. Maybe we can go there on a vacation some time.”
The memories of my nightmares flashed through my mind, and I wondered what would happen for me to go there; maybe it was an innocent vacation. But if it was that, why would Brad be involved in my dream? Was he going along with me?
“Heloise?”
“Mhm?” my thoughts drifted away and I stared at my mom.
“Sweetheart, did you hear what I said?”
“The vacation? Of course, it’d be great.” I half-smiled and then my gaze fell upon Brad, who had a serious expression on his face.
*
“What was it about that face you had on earlier?”
