That made me laugh. “You’re on your own there. I don’t control him.”
“Shows what you know. I saw the way he watched you yesterday. And how he got annoyed when Brad helped you.” We walked into the school together making it to our lockers by the first bell. “Brad noticed too. He thinks Morik might be a little too old for you.”
She had no idea. “We’re not together. Just friends.”
“Right,” she agreed sarcastically. “You and I both know that Morik would like more than just friends.”
Yes, I knew what he wanted, and it still scared me. I didn’t even know what it would mean to be with him. Not wanting to think about it anymore, I asked, “Did your parents come back?”
“Nope. They’re away until next Monday. Friday should be fun. What time are you coming? Say noon so you can help set up.”
Winter break started Friday. “It’ll depend on when Morik’s available,” I hedged. Though we didn’t do a big gift exchange at my house, we still had a family dinner. “So your parents won’t be home for Christmas?”
“No, but Brad and I are okay with it. They had a chance to visit with my Dad’s side of the family who live in England. We could have gone with, but we would have missed too much school. They’ve been calling every morning.”
We made it to class before the second bell rang.
I thought that I’d successfully put off Beatriz’s question about Friday, but at lunch, she proved me wrong.
“What are you doing after school? I thought I’d go to the mall and do some shopping. Want to come with?”
“Morik is picking me up.” Shopping would be fun now that I actually had money, but I wasn’t about to go back on plans I’d already made with Morik.
“Perfect. We can ask him about the party on Friday and shopping tonight at the same time.”
I shook my head at her in disbelief and she just flashed me a triumphant grin. Beatriz, the little engine that could.
Morik, leaning against his motorcycle while he waited, didn’t seem too surprised to see Beatriz at my side when I approached him. “Hello, Beatriz. What can I do for you?”
“Christmas is this weekend and I asked Tessa to keep me company while I hit the mall to catch some of the last minute deals. Thought she might have some last minute shopping of her own to do.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” he agreed with Beatriz, but he noted, “The mall’s too far for a ride on this.”
“I have a ride for both of us. What time do you need to be home, Tess?” Beatriz wanted to know.
She reminded me that I’d promised my mom that I’d let her know who I was with and when I’d be home. Morik guessed my thoughts because he assured me, “I’ll let Aunt Danielle know where you’re at.”
Beatriz and I agreed that she’d have me home by seven. She walked away to find our ride giving me a minute with Morik.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
“Yes. I’ll see you at your house at seven.” He smiled easily and his eyes gave nothing away until a car pulled up next to us with Beatriz in the passenger seat. Morik flicked his gaze at the driver and nodded. When he looked back at me, I saw tiny slivers of orange barely discernible behind his yellow driving glasses. He casually reached into his pocket and changed to his sunglasses.
“Not too late to change your mind,” I said quietly after looking back and spotting Brad in the driver’s seat.
His eyes gave nothing away hidden behind his sunglasses when he insisted again that I go. He took my school bag for me to drop off at the house. I climbed in the back of the car and waved to him as Brad pulled away.
“Glad she could talk you into going. It saves me from having to wait outside of dressing rooms to give opinions,” Brad joked.
Beatriz chatted about school, the upcoming party, vacation and the holiday during the thirty-minute drive and the ten minutes it took to find a place to park.
People bundled against the chill rushed into and out of the stores. The happy melody of a Christmas song poured from the mall when Brad held the door open for us. Garland and lights decorated the main entrance, which opened to the food court. The smells enticed me, causing my stomach to growl quietly.
Facing us, Brad warned us to stick together as if we were toddlers and then said to meet back in the food court in two hours. Beatriz didn’t need any further prompting. She turned and led me to the first of many department stores.