“In here,” I called back, throwing a look at Clay that told him to play it cool. He discreetly pulled a pillow over his lap and put his American history book on top of it. I had to hide my smile at how pleased I was that I had affected him like that.
“We’ve got Chinese food, if you want some...” My mom trailed off as she looked in my room and caught sight of Clay on the floor.
He looked up and gave her a sheepish smile and a small wave. “Hey, Mrs. Young.”
“Hi, there, Clayton.” Her tone was icy and she shot me a look that would kill a lesser person. She had been cool with Clay so far. But I knew from the expression on her face that her fuzzy feelings where my boyfriend was concerned were at an end. “I believe the two of you know the rules about being alone in here when we’re not at home,” she said, making it clear that a serious grounding was in my future.
There was a moment of silence that screamedbusted!“Sorry, Mom. I know. I had to use my computer for my Spanish assignment. We have only been up here for a few minutes. No harm, no foul,” I said lackadaisically. It kind of bothered me how easily I lied to my parents now. I had never been dishonest with them about anything. The guilt I felt low in my gut threatened to burn a hole straight through me.
But I looked my mother right in the eye and silently willed her to believe me. Clay was quiet on the floor, piping up with an apology only after I had finished my explanation.
My mom seemed torn. I could tell she wanted to believe what I had told her but needed to stick with her rules. “Well. I’m not happy about this. Clayton, I don’t want you over here without either her father or me present. Is that clear?” she told him.
I could see Clay swallow and he nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
I wished the floor would just open up and swallow me. But my mom wasn’t done yet. “I’m not sure what the rules are at your house. But in this one, we do not condone two young people, particularly when they are dating, being alone together in a bedroom. I remember what it was like to be your age. With the hormones flying and not always knowing when to put the brakes on things.”
Oh, dear Lord! “Mom!” I yelped in mortification.
My mom turned her harsh gaze on me. “And you, young lady, will have consequences for blatantly disregarding our rules. Whatever your reason for doing so.” She looked back at Clay and then at me. “Your father and I will be in the kitchen eating. I suggest you get Clayton out of here before your father sees him.” I sagged in my chair with relief. My mom was bad enough, but I sure didn’t want to be tag-teamed by both her and Dad.
“And then you come straight to the kitchen.” The guilt flared up again as I heard the angry disappointment in her voice. With a final pointed look at Clay, she went back downstairs. Clay got to his feet and put his books back in his bag.
“That could have been a lot worse.” I laughed, trying to lighten the mood.
Clay looked up at me through his hair. “Well, that was bad enough,” he said gloomily. I hated when he got that tone. It tore at my heart. I went over to him and wrapped my arms around him, rubbing my nose with his.
“Don’t worry about them. They disapprove of everything,” I murmured, trying to make this better for him.
Clay hugged me back, kissing me lightly on the lips. “No, your mom hates me now. I get it. I keep screwing things up where they’re concerned.” He pulled back and slung his book bag over his shoulder. I touched his arm.
“Don’t leave so upset, Clay. Come on. We were having a good time. Don’t let them ruin it.” I sounded a little desperate. But I hated these dark moods of his. They worried me.
Hearing the concern in my voice, he gave me a smile. A small one, but a smile nonetheless. “I just want to do everything right by you, Mags. I want to be the perfect boyfriend. I want your parents to like me and not blow a gasket when we spend time together.” Iwanted to cry at the despair in his words.
“I don’t want perfect, Clay. I wantyou.”
Clay rested his forehead against mine, kissing me slowly. “I love you so much. I just want to be everything you deserve.”
My stomach flopped over at his words. “Youareeverything. To me you’re the world,” I whispered against his mouth. At that moment, I knew it was the truth. I’d follow Clayton Reed to the edge of the earth if he asked me to. We stood that way for a moment, absorbing the comfort that only we could give each other.
But then, too soon, Clay pulled away. “Okay, sneak me out of here and I’ll call you later.” I took his hand and we quietly went down the stairs, my heart threatening to explode with every creak of the floorboards.
I could hear the indistinct murmur of my parents’ voices in the kitchen and knew we were in the clear. I carefully opened the door and shepherded Clay outside. I blew him a kiss and he pretended to catch it. I giggled and closed the door after making sure he was out of the driveway. I then made my way to the kitchen. The walk down the hallway was like walking the gangplank.
chapter
thirteen
my parents looked up at me as I came into the kitchen. My dad gave me a warm smile. “Hi, there, my Maggie-Girl.” I looked at Mom and tried not to shrivel under the dark stare she gave me. So she wasn’t going to tell my dad about Clay being in my room, but I guessed that didn’t mean I wouldn’t be punished in other ways. Like being slowly tortured by her evil eye.
“Get a plate and get some cheese wontons before your mother eats them all,” my dad joked, earning him a pinch in the arm from my mom.
“You make me sound like a gluttonous pig, Martin.” She sounded annoyed. But I knew her bad mood had nothing to do with my dad and everything to do with me.
I opened the refrigerator and pulled out a soda. “Why don’t you drink some milk or water instead of that syrupy junk?” my mom said sharply. I saw the look my dad shot her. He was confused by her apparent irritation with me. Normally I would have argued, but I recognized that would have been the wrong move. So I put the soda back and instead got a glass from the cabinet.
Filling it with water from the tap, I came and sat at the kitchen table. My dad moved the cartons of lo mein and sweet-and-sour chicken so I had room for my plate.
