relax until this whole mother issue is resolved.
“If I pretend to stay with you, do you think your mom will cover for me?”
“Well, she won’t have to for the couple nights we’re away, but I’m sure she’ll be cool.”
“Really?”
Tori waves her hand through the air. “She’s just gotten into sculpting, so the new creative kick is turning her into a complete flake. She doesn’t hear half the stuff I tell her lately, and I’m guessing she has zero idea what’s going on in the house while she’s blasting her music in the garage. Dad’s at work all the time, so I’m kind of in the perfect situation to cover for you.”
I sigh, then feel a light relief flitter through me as I nod. “Okay.” I hold out my hand. “I need a phone, if you have one.”
“Where’s yours?” Finn asks while Tori digs into her pocket. She hands it over to me.
I wince and shake my head, mumbling, “Lost it.”
His dark eyebrows rise. “Really?”
“Don’t ask, okay?” I look away from him as I use Tori’s phone to dial my mother.
I clear my throat, wincing at the pain. Mom’s phone rings twice before she answers. “Hello?”
“Hey, Mom.” I clear my throat again, trying to kill the raspy sound.
“Oh, hey. Who’s phone are you using?”
“Tori’s. She’s a friend from school.”
“Where’s your phone?” Mom’s tone makes me grit my teeth. No, hey, baby girl. How’s it going? I didn’t hear you come in last night. Did you end up staying at your friend’s house?
No! I slept on the floor in the gym!
Mrs. Jones appears in the doorway, obviously just returned from whatever she had to do. She has a large shopping bag in her hand. Her assessing gaze travels from me to Tori and then over to Finn. He raises his hand and points at the phone to my ear.
She nods, but then eyes me with an unrelenting look.
Forcing a smile, I speak again, hoping it’s reaching my voice. “I kind of lost it. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that Tori’s invited me to hang out with her this break. She’s heading up to BSU with her boyfriend and I want to tag along. Thought it might be a good chance to see the college again.”
“You went with us last year when we checked it out with Mack. Why do you want to go again?”
“Because when I went last time, I wasn’t thinking about me. And now, I kind of am. Maybe I want to go there.”
“Oh.” Mom’s voice brightens just a little. “Really? That’s great, sweetie. Okay, well, when are you thinking of going?”
My fuzzy brain scrambles for a smooth lie. I punch out the first thing that comes to me. “Um, today, like now.”
“Oh.” Mom’s surprised. “So, I won’t see you again before you leave? Do you have everything you need?”
“Yeah, I packed a bag this morning. Sorry, I should have told you before I left the house, I just…didn’t want to wake you.”
I cringe and hope my lie holds up.
Mom chuckles. “This must be the first time in history you were up before me.”
I force a laugh. “Yeah.”
“Okay, so, where will you be staying in Boise?”
“With Colt’s grandmother. It’s been arranged for a while; I’m just a last-minute entry. She’s cool with it though. Tori’s already called ahead to check.” I’m talking too fast. Pressing my lips together, I force myself to take a breath and slow down. “You’re okay with this, right? I mean, I didn’t think it’d be a problem.”
“No, of course not, sweetie. I know Colt will look after you. Are Roxy and Michelle going too?”
Dammit. Why so many questions?
“No, they’re away in LA this week, so it’s really nice that I’ve found someone else to play with.”
Mom chuckles. “I’m sure you’ll have a good time. When will you be getting back home?”
Never. My insides freeze, cutting off my air supply and making it impossible to answer her.
“And how am I supposed to reach you if you don’t have your phone?”
I lick my lips. “Um, just call this number. Tori can
“If I pretend to stay with you, do you think your mom will cover for me?”
“Well, she won’t have to for the couple nights we’re away, but I’m sure she’ll be cool.”
“Really?”
Tori waves her hand through the air. “She’s just gotten into sculpting, so the new creative kick is turning her into a complete flake. She doesn’t hear half the stuff I tell her lately, and I’m guessing she has zero idea what’s going on in the house while she’s blasting her music in the garage. Dad’s at work all the time, so I’m kind of in the perfect situation to cover for you.”
I sigh, then feel a light relief flitter through me as I nod. “Okay.” I hold out my hand. “I need a phone, if you have one.”
“Where’s yours?” Finn asks while Tori digs into her pocket. She hands it over to me.
I wince and shake my head, mumbling, “Lost it.”
His dark eyebrows rise. “Really?”
“Don’t ask, okay?” I look away from him as I use Tori’s phone to dial my mother.
I clear my throat, wincing at the pain. Mom’s phone rings twice before she answers. “Hello?”
“Hey, Mom.” I clear my throat again, trying to kill the raspy sound.
“Oh, hey. Who’s phone are you using?”
“Tori’s. She’s a friend from school.”
“Where’s your phone?” Mom’s tone makes me grit my teeth. No, hey, baby girl. How’s it going? I didn’t hear you come in last night. Did you end up staying at your friend’s house?
No! I slept on the floor in the gym!
Mrs. Jones appears in the doorway, obviously just returned from whatever she had to do. She has a large shopping bag in her hand. Her assessing gaze travels from me to Tori and then over to Finn. He raises his hand and points at the phone to my ear.
She nods, but then eyes me with an unrelenting look.
Forcing a smile, I speak again, hoping it’s reaching my voice. “I kind of lost it. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that Tori’s invited me to hang out with her this break. She’s heading up to BSU with her boyfriend and I want to tag along. Thought it might be a good chance to see the college again.”
“You went with us last year when we checked it out with Mack. Why do you want to go again?”
“Because when I went last time, I wasn’t thinking about me. And now, I kind of am. Maybe I want to go there.”
“Oh.” Mom’s voice brightens just a little. “Really? That’s great, sweetie. Okay, well, when are you thinking of going?”
My fuzzy brain scrambles for a smooth lie. I punch out the first thing that comes to me. “Um, today, like now.”
“Oh.” Mom’s surprised. “So, I won’t see you again before you leave? Do you have everything you need?”
“Yeah, I packed a bag this morning. Sorry, I should have told you before I left the house, I just…didn’t want to wake you.”
I cringe and hope my lie holds up.
Mom chuckles. “This must be the first time in history you were up before me.”
I force a laugh. “Yeah.”
“Okay, so, where will you be staying in Boise?”
“With Colt’s grandmother. It’s been arranged for a while; I’m just a last-minute entry. She’s cool with it though. Tori’s already called ahead to check.” I’m talking too fast. Pressing my lips together, I force myself to take a breath and slow down. “You’re okay with this, right? I mean, I didn’t think it’d be a problem.”
“No, of course not, sweetie. I know Colt will look after you. Are Roxy and Michelle going too?”
Dammit. Why so many questions?
“No, they’re away in LA this week, so it’s really nice that I’ve found someone else to play with.”
Mom chuckles. “I’m sure you’ll have a good time. When will you be getting back home?”
Never. My insides freeze, cutting off my air supply and making it impossible to answer her.
“And how am I supposed to reach you if you don’t have your phone?”
I lick my lips. “Um, just call this number. Tori can
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