Page 84 of The Lucky One

Jon raised his eyebrows. “If you’re using curse words, you must be really mad.”

“I am!” I threw some papers in the air. “You’re all done soon, and I’m stuck in school for another two years. I wish I could graduate high school here.”

“You’ve got to finish high school though,” he said. “You can come back for college.”

I flopped onto the bed in frustration. I’d been doing more and more hinting, but no matter how much I tried, Jon didn’t get the point. “Ugh, I know. I just wish there was a way I could stay here now already.”

“We’ll figure it out. Let’s go to Germany this summer, and then we’ll decide what to do next.” His calm eyes reassured me somewhat, but my impatience grew, despite knowing that I couldn’t pressure him into making this huge commitment.

His phone vibrated next to me. “I can get it for you,” I offered, reaching over. But Jon was by the bed in a flash.

“No, it’s fine.” He grabbed the phone and read the message up close.

“Who is it?”

“Um.” He stared at the phone for another second. “Lauren. She wants me to play cab driver again. I did it once and now she thinks I’m at her service.” He shoved his phone in his pocket.

“Go ahead. I can keep studying here on my own,” I suggested, but he shook his head vehemently.

“Nah, it’s fine. She’ll find someone else.”

I squinted at him. It was unlike him to reject anything Lauren asked of him. “You sure? I really don’t mind.”

“Yep, I’m sure.” He sat down on the bed next to me, letting his thumb run over my chin. “This is my time with you. I won’t let it get shortened by anyone.”

“You’re such a softie after all,” I teased, leaning in for a quick peck.

He shrugged. Then his face clouded. “You know, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you, but I’ve been dreading it.”

I sat up straight. “What is it?”

Oh my gosh, could this be the moment I’d been waiting for? Did all my hinting work after all—was he thinking about it too?

He dropped onto the bed next to me. “My mother wants me to come over for dinner with her and Mr. Perfect, and I told her only if I could bring you.”

Maybe not.

“Jon, you didn’t...” I covered my face. Going to dinner at his mother’s was the last thing I wanted to add to my to-do list.

“She agreed,” he admitted, giving me an apologetic look.

“No... Don’t you remember the last time I saw him? In my jail cell!”

“I know, but Little German, I can’t do this without you.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. But I couldn’t say no to Jon, no matter how much I tried. Plus, I had nothing to prove to Humphrey. He didn’t like me? Too bad. I was still on Jon’s side. “Ugh, fine. I’ll go.”

“Great, I’ll drive you home so you can get ready, and then I’ll pick you up at 6:30.”

I jumped up from the bed. “Tonight?!”

Jon grinned. “I thought it would be better if you didn’t have time to break your head over it.”

I grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. “I freaking hate you.”

“Love me,” he corrected with a smile. “I think you mean, love me.”

By 6:42pm, my hair was neatly arranged in a strict bun and I was in my fanciest dress—a black mini with lace on the arms. It looked more suited for a funeral, but I was determined to make up for any bad impressions I had made. Peeking behind the curtains, there was still no car waiting for me in the driveway.

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