Page 115 of August
“You did that?” he asked.
“Yes. My record was five.”
“Five? Damn.”
“I’m from New Orleans. We know spicy.” Myra then paused for a second and added, “You’re going to fall in love, and it might last forever, or you might get your heart broken, but everything that happens to you now is going to help you handle things later.”
“Why can’t I just get to the later and know all the stuff already?”
“If you can answer that, I think we’d all like to know,” she replied.
AJ laughed a little and said, “Mom wanted to know if you wanted to come hang out with us. We’re going to watch a movie and just chill.”
“I don’t want to interrupt your family night.”
“I think she could use you there,” he replied, standing up. “And it’s cool with me and Adele.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah. And if it’s cool with you, maybe we can still do the city hall thing one day soon.”
“Yeah, we can plan it,” she replied.
“Cool,” he said.
CHAPTER 34
“And you remember where the bookstore is?” she asked.
“Mom, yes,” he replied.
“You know what? I didn’t get you paper clips. You need paper clips.”
“Why would I need paper clips?” AJ asked.
“You’ll have paper and stuff.”
“Mom, my papers get turned in online,” he argued.
“Right.”
Elisa looked around his tiny dorm room. She remembered hers being just as small, if not smaller. AJ had a roommate, just like she’d had, but his roommate was out with his own parents for dinner since they’d be leaving the following morning.
“Well, I’m here tomorrow, too, so if there’s something else you need, make a list, okay?”
“Mom, you don’t have to stay the night.”
“It’s a long drive,” she replied. “And we can have breakfast tomorrow, right?”
“Yes, breakfast,” he said.
“Mom, are you ready?” Adele asked. “We’re parked outside, and there’s a security guard eyeing the car.”
“Yeah, I’m ready,” she said, lying through her teeth.
She wasnotready to drop her baby boy off at college, and she wouldn’t be ready to drop her baby girl off next, either.
“Baby bro, you good?” Adele asked.
