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"Are you asking me out?"

He blinks "A where a huge wad of pink gu et off at ht?"

"It seeo about it"

I unfold the paper in ain

"You’d have to meet my parents," I say carefully "I’ve sort of freaked the out when I can’t be supervised, and since they’ve never met you they’d probably say no and I’d probably have to be back before my curfehich is seven thirty"

I look him directly in the eyes

"Ipills with a bottle of Jack Daniel’s and life’s never the same, no matter how many times you try to tell people it was an accident"

"Is that a no?" he asks "If you don’t want to, just say so You don’t have to be such a sh, but I don’t There’s so about what just happened here I set the paper down

I could have a good time if I went out with Jake But that doesn’tme out?"

"Yeah," he finally says

"Moet over the initial shock that I still have a friend to bring home, ht out of The Parent’s Handbook and they’re so standard it doesn’t eventhem

MOM/DAD: Well, it’s nice to meet you, Jake! Gardner, Gardner that wouldn’t be any relation to the Gardners down on Marriott Avenue?

JAKE: Thanks, nice to ht be See, o

MOM/DAD: Oh,exciting! Welcome to Corby! So how do you know Parker? Do you two share a class together?

JAKE: We have art together We’re partnered for a big project due at the end of the year

MOM/DAD: Oooh Aaah

At this point I go upstairs and change out ofit up

MOM/DAD: And your parents--what do they do?

JAKE: Well, my dad’s in tech support down at that call center in Belton, ist and my stepmother does voice-overs for commercials You’ve probably heard her She did the one for those crazy mop-broom hybrids The Bop?

MOM/DAD: My reat, Jake! You’re welcoht away, opting to wait for the school day to settle first And Bailey needs a walk, so we take his to interact with other people’s dogs and chase Frisbees and things

"Here, Bailey" Jake grabs a stick off the ground Bailey hops around lightly as Jake swings it back and forth "Fetch, boy!" Jake throws the stick Bailey goes lunging after it and lets out a startled yelp when he’s jerked back by the neck, and that’s when I realize his leash is wrapped tightly around th

"Shit!" I say "Oh, Bailey--I’esture hi expression and it uilty I wrap ize to a dog, but this one alants e

"I’m sorry, Bailey I didn’t do it on purpose"

"You’re obviously unfanore him and pat Bailey on the head until he looks less pained andto do so ti overI think is I can’t pay hi I say, too

"Good boy" Bailey wags his tail I turn to Jake because I can’t shake this stupid sad feeling in the pit of ers "Do you think he hates me for that? I mean, do you think he understands it was an accident?"

"He’s a dog," Jake says But then he looks at my face "But sure, yeah I bet he understands He’s clearly smitten with you"

"Clearly," I echo I shove !"

"Har, har," he says, reaching for another stick

"I don’t feel co him off the leash," I say quickly, and Jake drops it and then I start feeling even worse for so this with hiry We should skip the coffeehouse"

His face falls "Sure, that’s fine"