Mateo
Chapter twenty-three
"Any news from them yet?" Dad asks.
I shake my head and check the time again. It's only been five minutes since the last time I looked.
"Funny how this all happened mid school year," he says, giving me a pointed stare.
"Yeah," I say. "Something about a student moving and a spot opening in time for the new term."
"Convenient," Dad says, patting me on the shoulder and retreating to his office.
I pull on a hoodie and go outside. The November air is cool, burning my lungs with every breath. But the house was suffocating. I grab a blanket out of the basket and settle on Mom's front porch swing.
My phone vibrates with a text.
Kyler
Hey man, I know it's last minute, but Leila decided we should throw a team Friendsgiving Saturday. No pressure, but it'd be great to see you.
It'd be nice to see Kyler, Leila, the baby, and the rest of the team.
I text him back.
I'll have Jade book flights tonight.
Kyler
Girlfriend?
Every possible answer feels wrong.
No, but I want her to be.
No, she's my assistant I fuck on the side.
Yeah, only she doesn't know it yet.
I decide the best answer is the truth.
new assistant
Kyler
Dude, wtf do you need an assistant for?
Long story?
Kyler
SMH
More than anything, I want her and Coop to come with me, but I know it'll be like pulling teeth.
I'm not looking forward to it. My Wrangler is collecting dust in the garage though.
Maybe she can drive stick? And if not, can I teach her enough to drive it from Maryland to Tennessee?
That might work as an excuse to get her to go without argument. I hope.
I shoot off another text to Kyler.
Is it cool if her and her kid come? I want to get the Wrangler, but I can't drive it yet.
Kyler
I have so many questions
Same, man. Same.
I give my housekeeper a heads up I'll be home and ask her to prepare my condo for guests. One way or another, I'll convince Jade to come with me.
"It was so cool," Cooper tells Dad. "The library was enormous."
"It's a go then?" I ask Jade.
She nods. "Everything checked out. I still can't believe it."
"I start in two weeks," Coop says, taking a bite of pasta.
So I cooked, whatever. I was hungry.
"Does that mean he can miss a few days? Kyler and his wife are hosting a Friendsgiving Saturday, and I thought we could fly out?"
Jade pauses her fork halfway to her mouth.
"We?" she asks.
"Yeah, I wanna drive my Jeep home, but I don't think I can drive that far myself without stopping a thousand times. Not sure the clutch will agree with my knee."
"Take Addie," Jade says.
"She has to work, and she can't drive a stick," Dad answers for me. Jade's brows pinch.
"I can't either," she says, putting her fork down and folding her arms.
In the end, I win because she can drive stick.
Thank you, Cooper, for selling out your mom.
But also, I'm diabolical and invited them in front of him.
He was so excited there was no way she'd tell him no, especially since he doesn't start at Prudell until after the holiday.
We leave Thursday afternoon, but I had to fight her to book all three of us business class flights without layovers.
She may have popped a blood vessel in her forehead at the price.
I keep waiting for her to stop worrying about the money, but that's easy for me to say.
I've never had to worry about it. Money has always been as simple as swiping a card.
I have a lawyer on retainer and a financial advisor in my back pocket.
I arrange for a driver to pick us up from the airport, and a trip to the stadium to give them a tour.
In my notes app, I have a list of all the places I want to show them.
I just hope we have enough time to do it all.
If not, I'll have to think of a reason to invite them back.
As much progress as we've made into the friends category, I doubt Jade would come just to visit. She'll need a reason.
One that's not me.