I had discarded three shirts on my floor when my phone started to ring. Not like text message but actual incoming call ringing, and my heart skipped a beat.
“Jack? What’s going on?” I demanded breathlessly when I picked up the phone.
“You’re totally freaking out right now,” he laughed. I was mid-heart attack by then, and he laughed.
“Why is that funny?” I asked, but hearing him laugh made my nerves settle down.
“You’re so paranoid!” Jack continued laughing. “Milo told me you would freak out if I just told you to text me without an explanation.” I heard Milo say something in the background, and Jack laughed harder. “Yeah, she is. I think she’s getting pissed now, though.”
“Good call,” I said.
“Sorry.” He suppressed his laughter. “We just had a big night of fun planned, and I wanted you to get over here so you can get ready.”
“A big night?”
“Yeah. We’re going out,” he said mischievously.
“Out?” I echoed.
The last time Jack and I had actually gone out anywhere, it was like a month ago. We went to Valley Fair, this amusement park in Shakopee. Even though we didn’t get there until almost ten, the park was pretty packed.
We hardly waited in line for anything. Everyone offered to let Jack go in front of them, and by association, me too.
That sounds awesome, but after this chick wearing only a bikini top and Daisy Dukes shorts tried to steal my seat next to him on the Wild Thing, I kind of freaked out and said I was never going in public with him again.
“Don’t sound so nervous. It’s not gonna be like Valley Fair. I promise,” he said.
“Okay?” I said, because that was the only thing I could really do.
“Awesome. So I’ll pick you up in like ten minutes.”
“No, wait! I’m still in my pajamas and everything!” I was just wearing girl boxers and a wife beater. I couldn’t imagine anywhere this would be a good look.
“Mae has some clothes for you. You’re getting ready here. Trust me,” Jack insisted wickedly. “It’s better this way.”
“What is going on?” I asked, baffled.
“Just be outside in ten minutes.”
“Jack!” I shouted, but he’d hung up. And if I wasn’t downstairs in eleven minutes, he’d probably come up and get me.
I ran a brush through my hair but it was still a ridiculous mess, so I pulled it back in a messy bun. I slipped on my flip-flops and ran downstairs, just in time to see Jack pulling up out front.
“You know, I don’t think you’ll even need Mae’s clothes,” Jack grinned and turned down the Beastie Boys when I got in the car. “You look smoking hot in that. I mean, are those even shorts? Or just slightly long underwear?”
“They’re pajamas!” I blushed and struggled to pull down the boxers so they covered my legs better.
“You slept over at my house lots of times, and you never wore those shorts.” He started driving and pretended like he was watching the road, but I could see him appraising me out of the corner of his eye.
“Your house is cold. I have to wear warm pajamas. My house is like ten million degrees. And I wanted to put on real clothes, but you didn’t give me enough time, so this is all your fault.”
“Hey, I am not complaining,” he laughed. “And I’m definitely turning the thermostat up the next time you stay over.”
“Oh will you stop looking at me like that!” I rolled my eyes at him. “You’ve seen me in a bikini before. Get over it! Its pajamas!”
“Sorry!” Jack smirked. “You’re right. You look nice is all.”
“Where are we going anyway?” I tried to change the subject.
“My house.”
“After that.”
“Oh, you’ll see.” His smile was definitely wicked, and I wondered what exactly I had in store for me.
When we got to his house, he had still refused to give away any clues. Matilda ran to greet us, and Jack shouted that we were home, so Mae followed the dog.
“Oh, Jack, you didn’t even give her time to get dressed?” Mae scolded him and wrapped her arms around me to shield me from the instant cold of their house.
“She’s just gonna change anyway,” he shrugged.
“She doesn’t need to freeze until she does!”
She led me through the house, back towards her room, where I’d presumably get ready. Milo, who’d been in the living room, ran out to greet us. If I wasn’t mistaken, he looked even better than he did the last time that I saw him, and he was taller too. The change was still taking its full effect on him.
“Has he told you where we’re going yet?” Milo asked.
“No.” I looked to Mae for help.
“You’re going to a club,” she smiled thinly at me, and Jack scoffed behind us.
“It’s supposed to be a surprise!” Jack complained.
“Oh, quit, it still is,” Mae shook her head.
“Like a dance club?” I asked.