Read Intentions for Free Online

he call me beautiful?
    “Thanks,” I say, and I feel really stupid. Does he know I’m stoned? Am I stoned? I am sooooo stoned.
    “It’s pretty stupid to get stoned at temple,” he whispers.
    “I’m not stoned,” I say.
    “Shhhh, you’re shouting,” Jake says, nodding his head. Two old ladies are staring at me. Oh shit, one of them is Mrs. Silverstein. I wave at her and smile. “Mazel tov!” I mouth.
    “I thought the pot hadn’t worked,” I whisper to Jake.
    “Oh, it worked,” he says, and he takes me by the arm and leads me to some chairs under the windows on the far side of the auditorium, far away from all the people—and the food.
    “What if I want more food?” I whine to him as he gently makes me sit down.
    “I’ll get it for you. I’ll also get you coffee.”
    “Does that help?”
    Jake shrugs. “Never tried it.”
    “Pot or coffee?”
    “Wouldn’t you like to know?” he says, and smiles.
    “You have a sexy smile, too, and I know I said that out loud.”
    “You are so going to regret this in the morning,” he says. “But I’m not.” He holds up his phone.
    “You’re recording this?”
    “Just that last part,” he says, and tucks his phone into his front pants pocket. I reach into his pocket, feel around.
    Jake pulls my hand out. “Rachel,” he says. “Seriously.” He’s blushing.
    I am so ashamed. But I’m not the one who should feel ashamed. The stupid rabbi should feel ashamed.
    “What?” asks Jake. “Why should the rabbi feel ashamed?”
    “Did I say that?”
    Jake nods.
    Oh shit. My heart starts beating wildly. I think I’m going to have a heart attack.
    “Jake,” I whisper frantically into his ear, “was I talking when you pulled me away before? Away from Mrs. Cohn? Was I saying something out loud?”
    If my life were a movie, it would be called Rachel and the Temple of Doom .
    “No, I don’t think so. I didn’t hear anything. I think you were just staring at her.”
    “How long were you standing there?”
    “Long enough.”
    “Oh, thank God.” Maybe there is a God! And He/She is looking out for me! I feel so happy all of a sudden. Happy, happy, happy. And strong and relieved and powerful and—
    “How about we go back to me telling you that you’re sexy? Get out the phone,” I say in my sexiest voice.
    “Are you kidding? I’m not falling for that. You’re going to grab it from me and erase what I recorded. You may be stoned, but you’re not stupid.”
    I nod again. I am very stoned. I feel like I might start to cry. “Please, Jake,” I whisper. “Help me.”
    “Don’t move,” he says, and runs his fingers gently through my hair as he pushes it back off my face. “Do not go anywhere or talk to anyone. I am getting you some coffee.”
    I sit and wait for Jake. I love him. I pledge myself to him forever. But it is taking him so long to get my coffee. Why does it take four hours to get coffee?
    “It took me three minutes,” he says, shaking his head sadly. “You are really gone. I am going to kill Adam.”
    “It’s not Adam’s fault. Besides, it was Alexis’s stuff.”
    “Huh,” he says, and he hands me the coffee. “I put lots of sugar in it. And cream. Drink up.”
    The coffee tastes delicious going down, but I’m afraid now I am just going to be a highly caffeinated stoned person.
    “I bet there’s a market for this,” I say. “Coffee with pot. Get it? Coffee pot!” I am so funny. I’m usually funny, but when I’m stoned I’m a riot.
    “You’re funnier when you’re straight,” Jake says.
    He gets me another cup, makes me drink it, and then insists we take a walk outside. As we leave the auditorium, I see my mother smiling at me with approval. She likes Jake. I won’t let that bother me. I like him, too.
    “You’re my savior,” I tell him.
    “I am not your savior,” he says. “I’m merely your coffee man. For tonight …”
    I don’t know what he means. I don’t want to know what he means. I’m never having