I chuckled.
She held out her hand and gestured for me to answer.
“Nothing is impossible, the word itself saysI’m possible.”
“Exactly.” Jane nodded. “Oh, I know!” She clapped and rushed over to me. “I should go see if I can find that angry Mr. Muscles.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “From the way you describe him, he would have no problem sweeping you off your feet.”
“Stop!” I smiled as I raised my hands. “Mr. Muscles is eye candy best enjoyed from a distance.”
She nodded. “Plus, seeing him might be harder now that you canceled your mom’s account and won’t be at his venue.”
“Yep.” I internally flinched at the lie. I wiped imaginary dust off the counter. It wasn’t a complete lie. I had every intention of not letting him see me at the next event.
My phone vibrated on the counter, and Mom’s face lit up the screen.
I’d been waiting for this call for days, and of course she called right now. I reached over and silenced the call.
Jane shot me a questioning glance.
I avoided eye contact. “I’ll call her back after you leave.” If I tried to talk to Mom while she was here, there was no way Jane wouldn’t find out.
The phone vibrated again.
Not now, Mom!
I rushed forward and silenced it. I could feel the sweat gathering in my palms.
“It’s rude to not answer your mother. What if she needs you?” Jane eyed me suspiciously.
The phone started to ring again, and Jane rushed at it before I could hit ignore.
Crap!
“Hey, Hannah! Were you wanting to talk to Em?” Jane grinned and listened.
What was Mom going to tell her?
“Yeah, I heard about that.” Jane shook her head.
I held my hand out for the phone, hoping to prevent the inevitable. Jane swatted my hand away and stepped toward the furniture section.
I hurried after her and reached desperately for the phone. Jane’s height and exercise habits both worked to her advantage.
Jane stopped. “Wait. You got what in an email?” She slowly turned to me.
I stopped chasing and waited for my punishment.
“I see.” There was a long, drawn-out silence. “Therapy,” Jane mouthed to me.
I dropped into a nearby chair as Jane glared daggers at me.
I was a terrible daughter and friend.
“You’re right, she owes you.” She raised her right eyebrow. “More than you know. Here, I will let you talk to Em.” Jane hit the mute button.
“Seriously, Em! After you told her you wouldn’t?” Her lips pinched, and her hand shook as she held out the phone for me to take. “I can’t even right now!” She slapped the phone into my palm. “You better tell her the truth. If you trick her again…” She stalked off to the front door and pushed it harder than necessary.
I flinched as the bell above the door held on for dear life.
