Page 55 of Goodbye Days

“Why do you have to leave so soon? UT starts Monday,” I say.

We’re on the porch. Georgia’s car sits low in the driveway, packed full.

“Oh, that’d be fun. Wake up at three a.m. on Monday morning so I can roll up to UT at seven a.m., move in, and then run to my organic chemistry class,” Georgia says.

“I don’t mean that. But you could leave Sunday. It’s Friday.”

“This isn’t the last you’ll ever see of me. I’ll be home for the Dearly show in October.”

“Let’s hang out today. Leave tomorrow.”

“I seriously need to settle in.”

“You need time to party, you mean,” I mutter.

Georgia leans forward and cups her hand to her ear. “Oh, what? I didn’t quite catch that. Need what? Did you say ‘I need a wet willie’?” She sticks her pinky finger in her mouth and pulls it out dripping. She goes for my ear.

“Georgia, no. Gross. Don’t be a dickhead.” I catch her wrist.

She cackles, licks her other pinky, and goes for my other ear. I grab that wrist too. She squirms out of my grasp and makes a stab for my ear, glancing off my cheek. She’s a Pilates nut and, well, I’m not. So I’m having trouble fighting her off.

“Georgia, quit. Come on. Quit.” My arm is shaking trying to keep her other hand away from my ear.

“Okay, okay, truce?” Her cheeks are ruddy. She’s having a ball.

“Okay, truce.” I let her arms go, already knowing I’ve been had.

We separate, regarding each other warily. Then, like a striking cobra, before I can even raise my arms halfway, her left pinky is wet in my ear.

I stand there. I’m so defeated, I don’t even try to swat her hand away. It’s very awkward to make sustained eye contact with somebody giving you a wet willie.

She pulls out her finger. “You’re going to be okay.” Her voice is gentle.

“Oh yeah?” I want to believe her, but it’s hard to imagine.

“You’re talking with Dr. Mendez. That’s huge. You’re taking your meds. That’s important. You have Jesmyn, who seems supercool.”

Jesmyn came to the goodbye barbecue we had for Georgia the night before. “She is cool,” I say.

“Don’t screw that up, whatever it is.”

My heart seizes with guilt. “We’re just friends.”

“Promise you’ll keep seeing Dr. Mendez, even if things don’t happen right away?”

“Yeah.”

“You can call or text me anytime you need to talk.”

“Yeah.”

“Will you try to let Mom and Dad in a little more?”

“I’ll try.”

“My offer to beat Adair’s ass stands.”

“I know. Both of us don’t need to go to jail.”