I flip him off, and when Ember tries to pull away I don’t let her.
The news of Dalto’s visit is shaking my stable ground, and I need Ember to steady me.
14
Ember
I’m not supposedto answer my phone while I’m on the clock, but Sky has called me three times.
“What’s up?” I whisper-hiss. If Gruff catches me, he’ll be pissed. He might even write me up.Teenagers and their cell phones,he complains.They can’t wait to tell each other every time they pee, or take a bite of food.
“I just did something big. Really big.” Her voice is high-pitched, like she’s holding back a squeal. I can see her sitting on her bed, holding a hand over her mouth as if she might surprise even herself by saying the words.
“Uh huh,” I say as quietly as I can. “And what was that?” Maybe she has taken up knitting with Mom, or cooking, or collecting porcelain cat figurines. Sky’s life is more boring than any of us would like to admit, so this leaves a lot for her to be enthusiastic about.
“I signed up for classes at Northmount Community College next semester.” Her words are so rushed they come out on top of the other.
“What?” I say loudly. Gruff looks up from where he’s restocking a display of cheap sunglasses. His narrowed eyes find me in an instant.
“That’s great,” I whisper, whipping around so he can only see my back. “I’ll bring home something sweet to celebrate, okay?”
“Those chocolate Easter eggs with the candy coating?” Sky asks hopefully. “You know I can’t say no to those.”
“Perfect.” Especially since Easter is over and all that candy is marked down seventy percent. “Go tell Mom. I’ll see you in an hour.”
Gruff taps on my shoulder just as I press the end button. I look back at him and the crooked finger he has pointing back towards the office.
“Okay,” I say cheerfully, leading the way.
The write-up is worth answering Sky’s call. So is enduring Gruff’s lecture about phone usage while I’m onhisclock.
When I arrive home with three bags of Sky’s favorite candy, she’s all smiles. My mom had already bought a bottle of sparkling apple cider, and we spend the next hour sipping it from coffee mugs while eating too much chocolate.
* * *
Noah was crowned prom king,and I was christened public enemy number one—to everyone except Noah’s closest friends, anyhow.
I’ve heard the whispers.
She’s, like, taking Noah away from everyone.
I heard they sit at her house in the dark and stare at the wall.
What is up with all those piercings? I bet she has her snatch pierced too.
I laughed out loud about the snatch one. It was pretty funny.
Today I get a break from the rumor mill. It’s Saturday, and a normal day for me, although it’s anything but a typical day for Noah.
Anton Dalto is arriving at Sutton House this afternoon, and Johanna’s going nuts. Ten minutes ago Noah called to tell me he’s coming to my place to escape the stressful atmosphere at home.
Thank god he called first. I only hope I can get up to my apartment before he arrives. The envelope in my back pocket feels like it’s alive.
I’d take the stairs two at a time, but they’re treacherous enough already. I’m halfway up when I hear a car door close. I already know it’s him. My body can sense his nearness.
He shouts my name and I turn. Leaning onto the black iron rail for support, I wave at him as he jogs from his car. He takes the stairs two at a time, only stopping when he reaches me.
“Show-off,” I mutter teasingly.
