ELENA
I did what Blake suggested and took a long shower—at least double the length of time I usually took to bathe. Tim, my shower’s name, finally announced the final rinse. I got out and toweled off. I’d never felt so clean before. There was no way Blake’s sent was still on me.
I pulled on my pajamas. As soon as I did, a soft knock came on my door. I decided to leave the questions for later.
My mom came in and she smiled. I ran to her and flung my arms around her.
“He came,” she sang.
“He came. We sorted everything out. He’s finally talking to me, Mom,” I said.
She studied me.
“Thank you for calling Isaac.”
Her smile crinkled her eyes. “Sweetheart, I couldn’t handle knowing that you were going to have a crappy birthday again. I’m just glad that he showed.”
“Me too.”
“So what did
