I had hoped Shane would drag her away from me so that she would at least stop distracting the other people in the class. But, since he was clearly enjoying her one-man comedy act even more than she was, he never said a word.
Lily also seemed to be having a great time at my expense. But I was so winded from the workout, the only retort I could muster was sticking my tongue out at her as she laughed like a hyena when Amanda tried to lay beneath me for my last round of push-ups.
It was sweet in a way: how they were trying to include me in their jokes and gibes. I just wasn't into it. I didn't know them well enough to enjoy being ridiculed by virtual strangers. Maybe Lily and I just weren't meant to hang out in a group. Or maybe we both just befriended assholes.
By the end of the fifth round, my legs were quaking and my arms were hanging lifelessly at my sides. I slid down against the wall and tried to catch my breath.
Lily sat next to me. “Did you like it?” she asked hopefully.
“Who in their right mind would like that?” I wheezed.
“Look around. Lots of people,” she giggled.
“You’re all nuts,” I said as I struggled to my feet.
“Agreed.”
I looked over and saw her smiling as I threw my arm around her shoulder. “Carry me out of here, beautiful.”
We headed for the exit, but Shane intercepted us. “How was it?”
“Brutal. I give you guys a lot of credit. You’re way fitter than I am if you can do that every day.”
“It gets easier,” he replied. “So, Amanda wanted me to ask you guys if you wanted to stop for dinner. I have a few things to finish up here, but I’ll meet you guys in fifteen minutes.”
Lily looked up at me. “We’re all sweaty and gross,” I complained.
“That’s no big deal. There’s a little place around the corner a bunch of us go to all the time. It’s super casual,” Shane explained.
Lily was still looking at me, the pout coming back to her face. But I couldn’t do it. It was bad enough I had just let Shane torture me for an hour. I just wasn’t up for hanging out with him afterward too. “Why don’t you just drop me back off at my car and then you guys can go?”
“But I want to hang out with you more before you have to go home to Eva.”
“That’s not very long from now anyway. I told my mom I’d be home by eight. And I’m beat. It’s fine; I’ll see you this weekend.”
“Okay,” Lily relented, though she definitely wasn’t happy about it. “Tell Amanda that I’ll come back and get her in fifteen minutes,” she said to Shane as we walked out.
“No problem. Oh, and Adam, if you want to join our little family here, just come on back in anytime.”
“Thanks, Shane,” I said as I continued to shuffle toward the door, “but I’m not sure this is for me.”
Chapter 33: Lily
It had finally arrived: spring break. I had been longing for it since Christmas, and now here it was. There was only one thing standing in the way of complete and utter elation. And that thing was the Swift Middle School Spring Concert. There were really very few things that were worse than a bunch of puberty-stricken boys trying to sing. And one of them was a bunch of hormone-fueled girls thinking they were all Kelly Clarkson. This is going to be straight-up hell.
The concert was set to start at six the Friday night before my week of freedom, so I decided to corral Tina and Trish and drag them to happy hour. Maybe a slight buzz would make the kids seem more talented. Though it was more likely that it would get me fired because I’d probably be unable to prevent cackling at their vocal abominations.
Trish was hesitant at first. What else was new? But I was ultimately able to break her and we all made our way to Flanagan’s.
“I’ll get the first round. What do you hos want?” I asked when we had settled at a high top table by the jukebox.
“Just water for me,” Trish declared. “I don’t want to drink before the concert.”
I stared at her. “Are you fucking with me right now?”
She drew back in her seat a little at my abrasiveness.
“Trish, the concert is the reason I’m drinking. Are you really going to toast to our spring break with water?” I was incredulous. Had I taught this girl nothing?
“But we’re going back to the school in a couple hours. I don’t want to smell like alcohol.”
“So pop in a Tic Tac and keep it moving,” Tina interjected. “I’ll take a vodka and cran, by the way.”
“No one’s telling you to get plowed. But you’re off the clock; you can have a drink or two if you want one. So, what’ll it be?” I leaned my hip against the table, daring her to say the word water again.
“Okay fine, you win,” Trish released with a breath.
“I normally do.”
“I’ll have an appletini.”
“Now you’re talking. Be right back.” I went to the bar and ordered our drinks, deciding on a Tequila Sunrise for myself, in honor of not seeing another sunrise for ten days. When I arrived back at the table, I saw Trish gesturing wildly with her hands while Tina seemed to be taking calming breaths. “What’s up?” I asked cautiously.