My parents were absolutely thrilled when Jonas and I walked into the kitchen. I’d never seen a longer hug than the one my mom gave him. Even Noah was excited.

“I don’t care what you say, young man. You’re staying for dinner,” she told him as we left the kitchen to head up to my room.

“Of course, Mrs. Hart,” he said, walking backward.

“I’ll make you your favorite.” She was absolutely beaming.

“You’re the best, Mrs. Hart,” he said and followed me upstairs.

I locked the door, put Hunky Dory on shuffle, and we smoked pot lying across the bed.

“What are you going to wear?” Jonas eventually asked me.

“What?”

“To your date with the jock.”

“Don’t call him the jock, please.” I handed him the blunt.

He chuckled.

“Jeans and a T-shirt, I guess.”

“You can’t wear that on a date.”

“Why not?”

“It isn’t really sexy now, is it?”

“Who says I want to look sexy?”

“That humongous, marbled mark on your neck?”

“Shut up.”

“I’m just saying,” he said, inhaling. “You’ll answer the door, and there he’ll be, hair all combed up and greasy, nice shirt, cologne, and shit, and you’ll be wearing the same pair of jeans you wear every day and that beat up Twin Peaks T-shirt you think looks like new.”

“Um, fuck off? And it does look like new.” I took the blunt from him.

“Does not.” He took it back before I could inhale.

“What should I wear, then?”

“I dunno,” he said, midpuff. “Pigtails?” He broke out laughing.

“Fuck you!” I said, also laughing.

“I just needed to acknowledge the long hair. Looks good though. You look like Kurt Cobain.”

“That is the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me,” I told him, dead serious.

He chuckled.

“I don’t know man. Just put in some effort, is what I’m saying. Like, a shirt and a tie—”

“I’m not wearing a tie; I’m not applying for a job.”

“Are you not though? I mean…”

We both laughed.

“Although, to be fair, it looks like you already got the position, so,” he said, sharing the blunt.

“I don’t know what the fuck I got, to be honest.”

“Do you like him?”

“Yeah. I think I do.”

“Does he like you?”

“I guess.”

“That’s all you need to know,” he said. “Although…”

“What?”

“I’m just curious. He’s picking you up, which means he’s coming here.”

“Yeah?”

“But Noah and your parents are home.”

“So?”

“Have I missed something? There’s a guy who’s going pick you up for a date and… I mean, unless you’ve told your parents…”

“No, I’ve only told Noah,” I said. “And only because he spent the night Friday.”

“And? I spend the night here all the time.”