Free Wishful Thinking by Elle Jefferson Page B

forties, but he was wearing a robe and slippers and the look on his face frightened me more than his manner of dress embarrassed me. Nate came huffing up behind my dad followed by a few of the kids who were still partying. He grabbed me by my shirt and rushed me from the house. The minute we got to his car I expected him to let me have it, but he didn’t instead he put both arms around me and hugged me for like ever.  
    I got grounded for a month, my allowance taken, Nate’s parents were informed and by the end of the week the whole school heard of the fiasco. Worst part wasn’t even the teasing from other kids for months following the incident it was the fear in my dad’s eyes. When he finished hugging me there were wet spots on my shirt from him crying. My dad isn’t big on tears. There is less than a hand full of times I can recall seeing him cry. Most of those times we were at funerals; grandpa Jojo’s, Ya-Ya’s, and my mom’s.  
    Even though I think he overreacted, it showed he cared and made me able to handle his less than stellar opinion of me. Needless to say his reaction that night, still haunts me and I have never missed a curfew since. When I’m running late I call, always, but I still wonder what made him freak like that.  
      "What about you," Claudia said bringing me back to our conversation, "your parents still together?"
    "No."
    “It sucks doesn’t it,” she said biting her nails.  
    "It’s getting late, I better go find the guys.”
    "Yeah, okay," she said getting up with me. Damn I just couldn’t shake her.
    Claudia finally left my side when I went looking for Summer who wasn’t hard to find. She had moved on from the soccer girls and was hanging with Emily, Caleb and … Trevor.  
      Trevor was standing right next to her. Far to close for my liking. As always he was telling a story. Damn he talked too much, of course, everyone was laughing along with him. Please. I’d heard a few of Trevor’s stories and the guy wasn’t funny.  
    When I walked up, Summer threw her head back and laughed knocking into my chest. I brushed my hand down her back before wrapping my arms around her waist. I pressed my lips to the back of her neck and she stopped laughing and tensed up.  
    “Hey, babe," I whispered in her ear and then kissed the skin behind her ear.  
    She sighed and settled into my arms.  
    “James, didn’t know you were here, haven’t seen you all night," Trevor said.  
    “Making the rounds," I said. I gave Summer another kiss on her cheek and rested my chin on her shoulder. She placed her hands over mine.  
    “Heard about rugby. Man that sucks. Suspended indefinitely?”
    “Yeah, I know, now the only sports to watch are the pansy ones like basketball." Trevor and I did a stare down and then he smirked when he glanced at Summer. He had no shame.  
    “You ready to go?" I asked her.
    Emily swayed, swishing her beer on me. "The party’s barely started."  
    "And you’re already drunk,” I said.  
    Emily stuck her tongue out at me, "Party pooper."
    Nate, Dean, Kyle and Claudia walked over then. Nate looked from me to Summer to Trevor then his eyes stopped on Emily. "We’re taking off, you guys ready?" Nate asked.  
    "Yeah," I said.  
    "I’m not ready to go," Emily said.  
    Claudia was standing next to Dean biting her nails.  
    Trevor took a sip from his soda. "I’ll take Emily home," he said, “DD for tonight.”  
    "All right, it’s settled let’s go," Nate said.  
    I took Summer’s hand to follow everyone. “I need to keep an eye on her," Summer said, "make sure she gets home."
    I didn’t like the way Trevor was smiling, or what he said next. "No problem I’ll take you both home."
    "You sure?” The question was directed at Trevor but I was looking at Summer.
    “It’s fine,” Trevor said.  
    “See,” Summer said and let go of my hand, “I’d like to stay.” She turned and put her arm around Emily, "Come on." They both walked over to the further