He looks stunned. "I guess so."
"Don't you trust Avi?"
"Honey, I don't trust any guy with my daughter. And something funky was going on here between you two before I came back."
"Aba, nothing was going on."
My dad bends down, picks up my Care Bear from the floor, and tosses it to me. "You can't pull the wool over these Israeli eyes."
"You're an Israeli with paranoid eyes," I tell him.
"That's a good thing. Call it an occupational hazard. We need to set up a few rules now that Avi's here."
I hate the word "rules." It diminishes your fun, freedom, and spontaneity. "Hit me with 'em," I say, knowing it's no use arguing.
"No boys in your bedroom. You and Avi can hang out in the family room, living room, and kitchen."
"Aba, I was just giving him a tour of the condo."
"Sure," he says, obviously not believing me. "Rule number two: no sneaking out to the living room to visit Avi in the middle of the night."
"Why don't you just lock me in the room so I don't escape," I say sarcastically. "Don't tempt me, Amy."
I roll my eyes. "Dad, a lot of my friends are more experienced than I am."
"That's their parents' problem, not mine."
I stand and face him. "I mean, if I wanted to do something I'd have done it. I'm not ready. Don't worry."
Before he can continue his lecture, I open the door and find Avi. He's going through his duffle in the living room.
"Everything okay?" he asks.
"I got the sex lecture," I tell him.
"Avi, boyenna b'vakasha," my dad calls out.
Oh, no. "What did he say?"
Avi stands. "I think I'm about to get the sex lecture, too." He walks to the back of the condo, where my dad is. Oh, great.
Why doesn't my dad trust me? I mean, I'm not the kind of kid who usually rebels by hanging out with druggies and drinkers. I'm clean cut. Okay, so I've stolen my dad's credit card and this summer I had feelings for Avi that surprised me...and I tested those feelings. But isn't that what teenagers are supposed to do?
I eye Avi's open duffle. Not much in there besides jeans, socks, shirts, and underwear--those tight boxer-ones like the ones in the Calvin Klein ads.
Behind me someone's clearing their throat. I jerk myself up, startled, and turn to Avi.
He nods, then says, "I got the sex lecture."
"Was it harsh?"
"Let's just say your dad tried to convince me he has the knowledge to kill me with one finger."
My dad walks into the room, looking pretty smug I might add. Sure, he just threatened Avi's life if he probably so much as looked at me.
"Arg!"
Mutt is oblivious as he takes a squeaky hamburger in his mouth and drops it at my feet. I pick it up and throw it down the hallway. He bolts after it and brings it back for another round.
"I met with Mr. Obermeyer downstairs when I took Mutt for his walk," my dad informs me as he watches Mutt slide past him. "We had a long talk, which seems to be the theme of my day."
"And?"
"And he said he's taking Princess to the vet tomorrow to see if she's pregnant. If she is, we'll deal with the consequences then."
"Thanks, Aba."
"It'll all work out; don't worry. Listen, I've got some work to do and you've got school tomorrow, so I think you should both say your goodnights and go to bed."
Since Avi's bed is the couch, I pull out of the hall closet bed linens and a blanket. I feel Avi's eyes on me as we make the bed together. "I wish we were back in Israel," I say. "This summer we had no rules to deal with, nobody telling us what we can and can't do... it was awesome."
"This is your dad's territory, his house, and his rules."
"Goodie for me." Isn't this my territory and my house, too? When can I start making my own rules up? Or be trusted enough not to have any rules?
When the couch is transformed into a bed, I turn to Avi. "You can use the bathroom to get ready first."
"Todah" he says, grabbing a toothbrush, toothpaste, and blue flannel pants.
"You're welcome."
I hurry into my room and dress in a tank and shorts, my usual pajama attire. I sit on my bed and stare at the picture of Avi on my nightstand and can't believe he's really here ... in my house, in my life again. It's not as perfect as it was in Israel, but there's something about Avi that calms my soul.
At the same time, I try to warn myself that he's only here for a week and not forever. He's leaving soon and I'll be left alone again... no date for the Valentine's Dance, no date for New Year's Eve, no date for Valentine's Day, and no date for the Fourth of July fireworks if the summer trip to Israel doesn't go through.
Nathan'll be around, though. Every day.
Why am I thinking about Nathan when Avi is here? I don't even like Nathan, or his emerald eyes.
Surely I gave Avi enough time to change and brush his teeth. But the door to the bathroom opens just as I reach it and Avi comes out...shirtless, with his hair wet from showering.
Bronzed skin, chocolate eyes, hair that looks almost black when wet. "Hi," I say.
He rakes his fingers through his wet hair. "Sorry I took so long. I needed a shower. I felt dirty from the flight and all."