Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 112892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
So that was out, even if Diego wasn’t here. Instead, maybe I could provide a distraction. “Would you like to come downstairs? I can make some tea, and we can watch another episode of American Adventures.”
Diego frowned. In his book, that was definitely not what the doctor ordered. But it was easy, and mindless, and sometimes, that was all a person could handle when they were overwhelmed.
Mia nodded. “I’d like that,” she said in a small voice.
So that’s what we did.
12
MIA
"I bet the yellow team never thought they'd be scaling this side of a mountain when they signed on for the race." It was the next evening, and we were already halfway through season three of American Adventures.
"Better them than me," I said.
"Not fond of heights?" Aaron asked.
"Don't hate them. Don't love them. But I have the upper body strength of... a worm. So I wouldn't do very well with that."
Aaron laughed. "Do worms even have upper bodies?"
"It's so hard to tell," I giggled. Speaking of upper bodies... Aaron had his arm around my shoulder. He first did that last night when we watched three episodes after that horrible call with Sara and the nightmare.
Yesterday, it had been for comfort. Today, I didn’t know. But I certainly didn’t mind. It felt good being next to him, thigh to thigh, side to side. I had to stop myself before I accidentally rested my head on his shoulder. That was a little too cozy for just friends, but whatever this was, I was enjoying it.
"Are they ever going to show us what the green team is up to?"
"I don’t think so. The pink team gets most of the camera time."
"I think they bribed somebody."
"Hey."
A voice from the door had us both looking up. We instinctively scooted apart, Aaron hastily putting his arm down. Diego walked into the room, one eyebrow raised, but he didn’t say anything about it. Instead, he came right toward us, pulled the coffee table back a few feet, and sat on it, facing us.
"We need to talk."
"Okay," I said, as Aaron paused the program.
"What episode are you on?"
"Eight, I think," I said, looking at Aaron for confirmation.
He nodded.
"And how long ago did you start this season?"
"A few days ago,” Aaron said mildly.
"And you two are also watching that show with blindfolded contestants on an obstacle course, right?"
"Yes." We hadn’t been able to stop laughing.
"Do you want us to kick in more for the streaming services or something?" Aaron asked.
"No. I want to suggest that at some point, you two might want to get off the sofa. To stop watching other people go on adventures—and go on some of your own."
I laughed. "I don’t think the race is going to come through Haverford."
Diego ignored that. “You two have been watching TV a lot lately."
"Yeah, well, Mia was upset yesterday,” Aaron said.
"I know that. I was there." The look he gave me showed concern. "How are you feeling today?"
"Better. But I hope if I get to talk to Sara next week, it goes better."
"I do too. But that doesn’t change the fact that you two have been sitting here so long you’re starting to grow roots."
"What are we supposed to do?" Aaron asked, a little defensively.
I bit back a grin. He sounded like a little boy whose mom had told him to go outside and play.
"Anything outside this living room, for starters. Hell, go apply for American Adventures if that’s your thing."
"That’s it!" Aaron said, bolting upright.
"It is?" Diego sounded incredulous.
Was he serious? "I don’t want to be on TV."
"Not that. The campus scavenger hunt."
"Never heard of it,” I said, taking a quick glance at Diego. It looked as if he hadn’t either.
"It’s organized by the student council. We could enter, it’s two people per team.”
“Wait, really?” Did scavenger hunts involve racing or running? I’d never done one.
Diego clapped his hands together, looking pleased. "I think that’s a great idea."
"When is it?" I asked.
"Tomorrow,” Aaron answered.
"Tomorrow?" I echoed, my pitch rising.
"Yeah. For Halloween." He said it like it was obvious.
Oh god, I’d forgotten that tomorrow was the real Halloween, since I’d already been to that Halloween party. Which I didn’t want to think about while Diego was in such close proximity. Or while we were both near a sofa.
"Isn’t it too late to enter?" I asked, half hoping it was.
"I don’t think so, but I can find out."
After a few seconds, I came up with another objection. "I have class in the morning."
"It’s in the afternoon. You don’t have class then, do you?"
"No, but..."
"I think this is a good idea," Diego said.
"That’s because you don’t have to run all over campus like a crazy person."
"We could do something else," Aaron said, turning back to me. "Maybe go to a Halloween party? Diego, you want to come too?"
Diego and I both said "no" at the exact same moment, and I glued my eyes to the floor, not looking anywhere near him.