CHAPTER 21

Turns out by later, Jackson meant three hours later. The doorbell rang around 7:45. Mom and Dad were seeing a play in St. Lourdes. So I hauled my lazy ass down the stairs and looked through the peephole. It was Jack, holding a tub of popcorn. It was adorable that he'd brought it to me, but I was dressed in ratty sweatpants and a used-to-be-white camisole. I opened the door anyway, grinning out at him.

"Brought you popcorn," he said, coming in. "Your folks home?"

I shook my head. "What're you doing here?"

He shrugged a little. "Can't I pay you a visit every now and then?"

"As long as your bring food. Come on in. Wanna go upstairs?"

He looked me up and down. "Are you wearing panties? 'Cause if you're not, we better stay downstairs… and sit on opposite ends of the sofa."

I giggled. Jack