Gasping out, “Yeah,” I pull open the passenger door, a little more aggressively than necessary, and jump in beside her.
“Well, I can see why.”
Chuckling, I buckle myself in, gazing at the seat behind me. This morning, the backseat was filled with boxes for donations. Now, it’s swarmed with decorations ranging from shelving to pieces of furniture.
The potted plants on the floor tickle my arms, their smell of fresh mint, lavender, and chamomile overwhelming my senses. I’m glad to have the distraction.
“Wow, Mom. You went wild.”
Head tucked into her chest, she grins sheepishly. “Yeah. Your father wanted me to wait until this weekend so he could go with me, buuuuut-”
“But you didn’t want him stopping you from buying everything you wanted.”
“Exactly.” She laughs, extending her arm over the center console to rub the apples of my cheeks tenderly.
We go through our ritual of talking about my day, gossiping about the bitches who still give me the side-eye while mumbling behind my back.
“It’s not all bad, though. There are two people who I’ve gotten to know.”
“Oh, yeah? Who?”
I start with Christian since he was the first person I had an actual conversation with. He’s sweet and insanely smart with a wrestling scholarship to the University of Providence. He was kind enough to eat with me when I was walking alone that first day and offered me tips on the best hidden spots in school when I just need a moment of peace. Texts me every day.
“It’s only been a week, Scarlett. How do you have this boy already in love?”
“He’s not in love, Mom. He’s just being nice to the new girl.” But even I don’t believe that. I see how close he walks when Marie, him, and I stroll at lunch. Apparently, they’re cousins, which I was shocked to learn. Or how he peeks at me in class when he’s supposed to be grading for Mr. Ellis. It’s bashful and kind, so boyish.
Completely opposite of Mr. Ellis.
“And the other?”
“Marie,” I offer, pointing left to navigate her to the lofts. “She’s fun. Super energetic and not afraid of anything. You’d like her. We may have a girls’ night soon, so you could meet her then. Oh! And she’s so gorgeous. I may have a crush on her too.” I’m joking.But if I did like girls, it would be her.
“Good!” She laughs, waiting for the light to turn green. “I’d rather have her than any man.”
“What?! Why?”
“Because men are fucking crazy! Especially with girls as pretty as you.”
“Girls are crazy too, Mom.” I cross my arms under my bust. She disagrees, her nodding head shaking the wild curls around her olive face.
“No girl is as crazy as you.”
Mouth falling open, I gape at her with shock. “Excuse me?!” I don’t know how to take that, but the warmth in my heart says it’s a compliment.
“You know you’re crazy, Scarlett. More so when fixated on something. You just… don’t know how to let anything go. I blame it on your father.”
Glancing toward the backseat, I would have to disagree.
We pull up to the lofts moments later. My mother glares at the building, looking for signs of vandalism, perverts, or gangs sulking around the corner.
The only trouble she’ll find is behind the counter, but I doubt Roy would try to fuck with a detective's wife.
“Let’s go inside,” I say, unbuckling my belt and stepping back into the icy winds.
We walk side by side into the front office, my mom still insistent on holding my hand. Behind the counter, Roy shuffles a deck of cards. His poker face is shit. I can still read the aggression he has for me. But what kind of man is he? The type to look, or the type to take action? It’s the latter I have to watch out for.
“Hello,” my mother greets. Always kind, even to people who don’t deserve it.
