trying to clear my mind enough to figure out why I was so God-blessed warm. Sitting up in bed, I kicked all my blankets to the floor and tore off the hoody before I remembered that I’d turn up the heat before I had lain down.
Yawning, I walked into the kitchen to get some water, surprised at the time. I’d slept late, almost to three, and knowing Neil, he’d probably be here soon. The light wasn’t blinking on the answering machine so he hadn’t left a message. I grabbed the cordless phone off the counter and scrolled down through the missed calls list. He hadn’t called, either. Strange.
Frowning, I plopped down on the couch and flipped on the television. I was still tired and I hadn’t played in the game yesterday; Neil must have been exhausted. I had no doubt that he’d gone home and crashed – just like I had – and was most likely still sleeping. Knowing he’d probably call any minute, I forced myself to stay awake and watch TV.
A half hour later, he still hadn’t called and I started to worry. Another half hour and I was in full-blown panic mode. I’d only known him a few months, and even though I would swear on my grandmother’s grave that he was different from every other boy I’d been with, I didn’t really know for sure. Maybe he was no better than the rest of the men in my life.
I wasn’t like most of the girls I knew. I’d never been clingy, and couldn’t imagine myself going crazy and crying if I overheard a boy admit that he was cheating. But I now had an inkling of understanding as to why some girls behaved that way. No way in hell was I about to be blown off without an explanation. I wasn’t about to sit around and wait for him to call me and then whine to all my friends or make some over the top dramatic scene at school tomorrow when he didn’t reach out. I wouldn’t beg him to come over and talk, only to try to convince him that I was good enough for him. No, if Neil didn’t want me around, I’d go.
But not until he told me why.
Grabbing the phone, I dialed the familiar number. When Mr. Kelly answered, I faltered. Neil always picked up when I called and the deep, Southern voice of his father threw me.
Thankfully, Mr. Kelly chuckled as I tripped over my words. “Lia, is that you?”
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me, and mumbled something that I hoped sounded like an affirmative answer.
“Hold on one second, darlin’.”
I took a deep breath, suddenly nervous. What exactly would I say to him? Every thought that crossed my mind made me sound like a jilted girlfriend – which I wasn’t – and I didn’t want him to think I was too needy. I heard a door shut and knew his dad must have gone to get him.
“You still there, ‘lil lady?” I smiled at his dad’s voice, remembering that Neil told me how much his father enjoyed playing up the accent when he talked to Northerners like me.
“I am.”
He cleared his voice, and when he spoke again, it was almost a whisper. “Nate can’t come to the phone, Lia. He’s in a heap of trouble. His momma is fit to be tied right now and he’s lost his phone privilege and his truck.” He paused as if to wait for my reply, but my mouth was hanging open in surprise. “I didn’t want you to worry. If I have a chance, I’ll tell him you called and you’ll see him at school tomorrow.”
After I thanked him, I hung up and stared at the muted television, feeling like a complete idiot. Neil hadn’t called me or shown up because he was in trouble. His dad hadn’t said what caused this punishment, but I was pretty sure it was because of last night. What would my mom think if I told her I’d spent the night with Neil? She’d ask if we’d used protection and then act as if it were completely normal for a sixteen-year-old to spend the night with a boy that wasn’t her boyfriend.
I didn’t know which of us had it worse: the kid with the overbearing mom or the one with the absent parents.
I didn’t have long to think
Yawning, I walked into the kitchen to get some water, surprised at the time. I’d slept late, almost to three, and knowing Neil, he’d probably be here soon. The light wasn’t blinking on the answering machine so he hadn’t left a message. I grabbed the cordless phone off the counter and scrolled down through the missed calls list. He hadn’t called, either. Strange.
Frowning, I plopped down on the couch and flipped on the television. I was still tired and I hadn’t played in the game yesterday; Neil must have been exhausted. I had no doubt that he’d gone home and crashed – just like I had – and was most likely still sleeping. Knowing he’d probably call any minute, I forced myself to stay awake and watch TV.
A half hour later, he still hadn’t called and I started to worry. Another half hour and I was in full-blown panic mode. I’d only known him a few months, and even though I would swear on my grandmother’s grave that he was different from every other boy I’d been with, I didn’t really know for sure. Maybe he was no better than the rest of the men in my life.
I wasn’t like most of the girls I knew. I’d never been clingy, and couldn’t imagine myself going crazy and crying if I overheard a boy admit that he was cheating. But I now had an inkling of understanding as to why some girls behaved that way. No way in hell was I about to be blown off without an explanation. I wasn’t about to sit around and wait for him to call me and then whine to all my friends or make some over the top dramatic scene at school tomorrow when he didn’t reach out. I wouldn’t beg him to come over and talk, only to try to convince him that I was good enough for him. No, if Neil didn’t want me around, I’d go.
But not until he told me why.
Grabbing the phone, I dialed the familiar number. When Mr. Kelly answered, I faltered. Neil always picked up when I called and the deep, Southern voice of his father threw me.
Thankfully, Mr. Kelly chuckled as I tripped over my words. “Lia, is that you?”
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me, and mumbled something that I hoped sounded like an affirmative answer.
“Hold on one second, darlin’.”
I took a deep breath, suddenly nervous. What exactly would I say to him? Every thought that crossed my mind made me sound like a jilted girlfriend – which I wasn’t – and I didn’t want him to think I was too needy. I heard a door shut and knew his dad must have gone to get him.
“You still there, ‘lil lady?” I smiled at his dad’s voice, remembering that Neil told me how much his father enjoyed playing up the accent when he talked to Northerners like me.
“I am.”
He cleared his voice, and when he spoke again, it was almost a whisper. “Nate can’t come to the phone, Lia. He’s in a heap of trouble. His momma is fit to be tied right now and he’s lost his phone privilege and his truck.” He paused as if to wait for my reply, but my mouth was hanging open in surprise. “I didn’t want you to worry. If I have a chance, I’ll tell him you called and you’ll see him at school tomorrow.”
After I thanked him, I hung up and stared at the muted television, feeling like a complete idiot. Neil hadn’t called me or shown up because he was in trouble. His dad hadn’t said what caused this punishment, but I was pretty sure it was because of last night. What would my mom think if I told her I’d spent the night with Neil? She’d ask if we’d used protection and then act as if it were completely normal for a sixteen-year-old to spend the night with a boy that wasn’t her boyfriend.
I didn’t know which of us had it worse: the kid with the overbearing mom or the one with the absent parents.
I didn’t have long to think
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