Me Myself & Him by Chris Tebbetts

Me Myself & Him by Chris Tebbetts

Author:Chris Tebbetts
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2019-07-08T16:00:00+00:00


Chapter 7

5:40

“Listen, don’t get mad,” I told Gina in the car on the way to my meeting that Thursday, “but I was kind of hoping you’d let me get you out of bringing me back to the lab after this.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked.

I’d gotten as far as asking her to drive both ways, but I hadn’t worked up the nerve to ask her about the rest—about Swift—mostly because I was afraid she’d say no. And now, the whole thing had gotten away from me, until winging it had somehow turned into the better (= only) option.

“I was kind of planning on hanging out with a friend after the meeting,” I said.

“A friend?”

She was definitely learning to read me.

“A guy in my group,” I said. “I just want someone I can talk to who isn’t in my family and—no offense—doesn’t work at the lab.”

“None taken,” she said. “But I’m not going to lie to your father, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

“You don’t have to,” I said. “Just let me get you out of it. I’m not trying to put you on the spot. I’m just—”

“Putting me on the spot,” she said.

“I’m sorry,” I said again. “I really should have asked you sooner, but the truth is, I was afraid you’d say no, and I’m kind of desperate. I’ve never even been out with a guy before.”

It was embarrassing to admit, but it was also true.

“So tell your dad,” she said.

“That’s complicated,” I said. “He doesn’t want me ‘dating’ anyone this summer, and that’s not even what this is. It’s just doughnuts. But Dad’s so hyper about my accident, and all the reasons I’m here in the first place, I don’t think he’d understand.”

I knew Gina felt a little sorry for me, now that she’d had a chance to see how Dad and I operated around each other, but I wasn’t sure if it was enough to bring her on board.

So I pulled my phone out, slowly, like unholstering a weapon, with no sudden moves.

“How about this?” I asked. “I’ll call Dad, and if you hear me lying about anything, you can speak right up.”

I could tell she wasn’t going to say yes, but she didn’t say no, either, so I hit Dad’s number and put it on speaker.

“What’s up?” he answered. “Everything okay?”

“Gina is going out with friends later,” I told him. That was true. I knew it from earlier in the day. “Technically she has enough time to get me back to the lab, but do you care if I take the bus?” I kept my eyes on Gina the whole time so she could watch me not (exactly) lying.

Dad paused. I had no idea if he was thinking about me or if he was working on something else.

“Dad?” I asked.

“Just call a car,” he said.

“Can you tell Gina it’s okay? She still looks uncomfortable,” I said, which was also true.

“Thanks, G,” Dad said. “It’s fine. I don’t want to hold you up.”

“You’re not,” she said.



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