Page 18 of Sweet Trouble
“What time do you all have to leave?” Gram asked, eyeing the clock.
“Oh dear,” Jillian said. “I’ve got to go in about two minutes, but the girls have another fifteen. Why don’t we clear the table and gather up all your coats and hats and things, girls?”
But Gram and Grampy insisted on clearing the table, and while Jillian tried to help, the girls began carrying their winter things into the kitchen and laying them out on the table.
“Okay,” Jillian said. “Two coats, two sets of gloves, two pairs of boots, two scarves, andthreehats. Where did this one come from?”
She held up a knit cap that looked somehow familiar, even though she was sure she’d never seen it before.
“My friend gave it to me,” Posey sang out, grabbing the hat and cramming it down on her head. It was awfully big on her, which only made it more adorable.
Jillian was glad at least one of her daughters had a friend, although she was a little worried that this friend might be hatless now.
“Isn’t that the hat you made for the Lawrence boy?” Grampy asked.
“It sure is,” Gram said.
“Yes,” Posey said. “Mr. Lawrence let me wear it.”
“Wait, your friend is Tripp Lawrence?” Jillian asked, stunned.
“He was at my school,” Posey said nonchalantly. “I squirted him with a hose.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Gram laughed.
“Helet me,” Posey said. “He got me first by accident. That’s why my hat was all wet.”
What on earth is going on around here?Jillian wondered helplessly.Is everyone in this family hanging out with Tripp Lawrence behind my back?
Am I missing something?
She tried not to think about Tripp and focused on getting herself bundled up and out the door. But as she reached her cleaned and shoveled-out car, it was impossible not to recall the feeling of warmth she’d felt when he’d been standing in front of her in that very spot.
5
TRIPP
Tripp stopped in the boys’ bathroom to wash his hands on the way to the infirmary.
All the times he’d been in here back in school, it had been full of laughing, jostling teenage boys.
But now the bathroom was empty to the point of echoing. It made him feel old for some reason, even though he knew that it was after school hours, and of course the kids’ bathrooms were empty.
He studied himself in the mirror for a moment, then ran a still-damp hand through his slightly too-long hair and tried to convince himself that he wasn’t just making an excuse to try and catch a glimpse of Jillian.
After all, heshouldreturn the rest of the roll of surgical tape he’d taken from the infirmary’s supply room yesterday. A good citizen would do just that.
There was no reason for me to clean myself up beforehand though.
Rolling his eyes at his reflection, he turned away and headed back into the hallway.
Today’s practice had been a good one. The boys were really committed this year, and it showed.
A couple of his superstars had graduated last year. But just like Coach Johnson said, this year’s crop of juniors and seniors had been ready to take their place, and this season had started off just as promising as the one before.
He turned down the little hallway with theInfirmarysign hanging over it.
I’m just popping into the supply room to put this back,he told himself, rolling the circle of tape in his hand.Then I’ll head out. I won’t even see her. She probably left an hour ago.
