I shrugged. “So how do I have fun without letting my heart get in the way? How did you date so many men without feeling for them?” Then it dawned on me that I had to ask her about Joey Dennison.
She gave me a weak smile as she swept my hair from my shoulder. “I did have feelings for a couple of them, but their values weren’t my values. Honey, we’ve been through a lot in the last month. You’ve got a new school, we haven’t completely unpacked, and I have my book deadline looming. So things around here will be a little tense for both of us. So please bear with me. Okay?”
I understood that her books were what kept food on the table for us. However, it still hurt that she’d blown me off. It also didn’t help that all the drama at school had me in a funky mood. “I’ll try.”
She wrapped my arms around me. “I love you.”
I hugged her back. “Same here, Mom.”
She grabbed her coffee cup and went over to the counter to fill it.
“Speaking of old boyfriends,” I said, “Coach Holmes seems to be in awe that we know Joey Dennison. He wanted to ask if you still had contact with him. He mentioned that he would love to see if Joey would be interested in giving the football team some pointers.”
She poured milk in her coffee. “He emails me every now and then. I could ask. I wouldn’t mind seeing him.”
“Thank you. Also I have my tutoring session this afternoon. Oh, and I’m supposed to hear back from one or two of the art galleries.”
She set down her cup then kissed me on the forehead. “Speaking of the job, I decided you should concentrate on school and your grades. I’d rather you not work. But that’s entirely up to you.”
“I’ll think about it.” I liked one of the places that hosted sip-and-draw nights, where a group of folks came together to paint one scene and sip wine. I thought that was a cool way to attract people to the gallery.
“By the way, I probably won’t be here when you get home. I have a meeting with Train’s mom about the debutante ball.”
I should at least warn her that a few students knew who she was, which meant parents would know she was an erotica author. “Mom, word spread on Friday that you’re Casey Stewart. So be prepared.” I wasn’t sure how many kids knew, but the football team had been salivating over her work.
She sat back down in front of her laptop. “How? Did you say anything?”
I chewed on the inside of my cheek. “Not a word. Train was reading your book in computer class on Friday morning. I didn’t ask him where he got it, though.”
“His mom might read. But my books are in stores. So any backlash for you?”
“I think the school would rather talk about my football tryout.” Then again, maybe word hadn’t spread yet about my mom. “I’ve got to run.” I darted up to my room and snagged my bag then left.
When I finally arrived at school, I was perspiring but not dripping with sweat. Maybe the steamy weather was growing on me. Cars were parked in the lot, and students gathered in groups, while others headed in the air-conditioned building. I didn’t see any sign of Reagan or Elvira or even Train.
I trailed behind a group of girls who were talking about the debutante ball. At least today, kids had moved on to other juicy gossip rather than whispering about my pathetic public display of kicking a football.
The halls were light with traffic for a Monday morning as I made my way to computer class. When I rounded a corner, I came face-to-face with Nina.
Her auburn hair was pulled up in a high ponytail, and her makeup was painted on to perfection. “So your mom writes smut for a living. Is that why you’re a slut and attacked Train in the weight room on Friday?”
So much for not getting any backlash about my mom’s profession. “Someone is quite jealous.” I skirted around her scrawny frame. I wasn’t about to get into it with her.
She caught up to me, digging her long red nails into my arm. “You won’t get Train. I’ve been asking around about you. You’re nothing. I own this school. And I’ll do what I can to make sure your life is hell.”
I got in her face. “Bring on hell, then.” I stuck my nose in the air and left her standing in the hall with her mouth open.
Snickers and snorts zipped up and down the hall from nosy bystanders.
She could burn me at the stake, spread rumors, or do whatever she pleased. I wasn’t about to let her or anyone else get to me. Besides, I’d seen girls like Nina in the other schools I’d attended. Most of them were all talk.
Mr. Salvatore nodded at me when I entered. “Good morning, Ms. Smith. Have you and Train come up with your app for your project?”
“We’re working on it.”Liar.Our preliminary report was due this Friday, and the mood Nina had dumped me in might have been what I needed to light a fire under Train’s ass.
More students piled into class. None of them were Train or even Elvira. As I headed to my desk, I sent a quick text to Elvira.Where are you?Then I pulled out my notebook and pen. A minute later, her response popped up on my phone:Running late.
Reagan bounced in, her hair loose and flowing, and wow. For the last week, she had worn her hair in either ponytails or braids and dressed conservatively in cute capris and cotton shirts. Today, she wore a short skirt, exposing tanned legs, wedge sandals, and a shirt that dropped to her butt and hugged her curves. She beamed from ear to ear as though she’d gotten laid over the weekend.
