Chase & Adrienne

37

CHASE

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

I wake up with the sun shining directly in my eyes. My room feels like a sauna, and I'm tangled in my thick blankets like a human burrito. This is definitely not the most comfortable way to wake up, and I spend the first five minutes of consciousness detangling myself from my nest, as well as convincing my brain that I'm not in the middle of a heat stroke. 

Once I'm free, coherent thoughts finally begin working their way into my brain. Naturally, these thoughts center around Adrienne. Immediately, my body is flooded with a feeling of absolute bliss as I remember the events of last night. It wasn't just some dream. It really happened. It finally happened. For a moment, I'm sure that I could be content forever. That is, until I look at my alarm clock. It's 11:56am. 

And just like that, I am fully awake. Carmen's gonna be here in exactly four minutes, and if I look like an absolute wreck, my message will not be received kindly. I sprint out of my room and brush my teeth as fast as I possibly can. I swap my T-shirt for a very similar but nicer smelling one, trying not to get the fabric caught on my toothbrush. I gargle mouthwash as I'm running around the living room, trying to straighten up. The doorbell rings, and I'm like a deer in headlights. Without thinking, I spit my mouthwash in a nearby flower pot. I make a mental note to Google the effect of mouthwash on plant growth. Right before I answer the door, I take one last look around the room. That's when I see Adrienne's dress draped over the side of the couch and literally scream. She must've forgotten it here last night. I ball it up and throw it as far as I can into the laundry room, slamming the door behind it. The wall rattles from the force. The bell rings again. I answer the door, completely out of breath. 

It's the UPS guy. 

He must've heard some of my commotion because he's got this really concerned look on his face. I try to give him my most believable I'm-not-crazy smile. This just makes me look crazier. He has a huge box in his hands. 

"Will you, uh, sign for this?" He holds out an electronic tablet and a stylus. I try to sign my name, but it looks like a toddler's scribble. I hope he doesn't notice. 

"Here ya go," he says, handing me the package. It has my mom's name on it. I take it from him and place it next to the door. 

"Thank you."

"Take care now." He says this carefully, like he's afraid of what I could be capable of if I don't, in fact, take care now. 

"I just..." I start to explain, knowing full well that this guy couldn't care less about any explanation I could possibly give him. "I'm expecting someone."

As if on cue, Carmen's car pulls into the driveway. The UPS guy turns to look at her. As Carmen climbs out of the car, he turns back to me. He raises his eyebrows and gives me a respectful nod and a discreet thumbs-up. I open my mouth to explain again, but I just let it slide. The UPS guy and Carmen pass each other as she walks up. He greets her politely. He climbs in his truck and starts it up, waving at me before driving away. 

"Hi," Carmen says, pausing on the doorstep. 

"Uh, here, you can come in," I tell her, awkwardly side-stepping to let her in. 

"Cool."

She only takes two steps in, then stops in front of me again. Are we supposed to hug each other? That feels so wrong now, especially considering who I was kissing last night. Carmen gives me a one-armed hug and slinks away quickly. I rub the back of my head. This is going to be so much harder than I thought. 

"How are you?" Carmen asks. 

"Good, tired." Immediately, I want to take it back. Should I not have said tired? Does she know I just rolled out of bed? Is she assuming I went to bed late? Does she think I was up all night? Does she think I was up all night with Adrienne??? God, please help me.