“What about your heart?”
“What about it?”
She laughed lightly. “Youdohave one.”
“Not sure what you want me to say,” I said. “It’s…there.”
“That’s just it. It should be more thanthere. Your heart should be beating and alive and full of all the things that make you happy. More than anything, I just want to see you happy.”
“Don’t know about that right now, Mom. There’s a lot going on.”
“I know. But keep your heart open. That’s all I ask. And please don’t force anything on my behalf. I was just curious if there might be anyone special.”
Holden’s maddeningly, frustratingly perfect face rose up in my mind.
“Violet,” I blurted.
“My Violet? Really? She’s lovely, but—”
“Yeah, and actually, I have some news. I think I heard her car pull up. Hold on.”
I strode to the door quickly, determined to put an end to the turmoil and confusion. To set my life back on the track it’d been on since I could hold a football.
I threw open Mom’s door and nearly crashed into Violet herself. She gave a little cry of surprise.
“Shit, sorry I scared you,” I said, demanding my senses take in her feminine beauty and make it mean something. Anything.
“It’s fine,” Violet said with a nervous smile. “I can come back if—”
“No, come in. Please.”
“Hello, darling,” Mom said warmly as we joined her bedside.
“Hi, Mrs. Whitmore.”
“Nancy, please. Remember?”
“Right. Okay.”
Mom loves Violet. We can make her happy. What else matters?
I took Violet’s hand that was so small and fragile in mine. “Violet and I are going to the homecoming dance together after the game on Friday.”
“Is that so? How lovely.”
Violet gave a little laugh. “He’s the king, and there was a glitch in the matrix, so I ended up as queen. I think he’s contractually obligated.”
“Ha, no. I’m happy to,” I said. My palms were getting sweaty. I dropped her hand and quickly lunged for my backpack where I’d left it on the floor. “I gotta get to practice.” I kissed Mom on her silk scarf. “Bye, Mom.”
“Be safe, dear.”
I remembered to spare a glance for my homecoming queen. “Call you later?”
“Uh, sure.”
“Great.” I pecked her on the cheek and hurried out.
In my room, I dumped my backpack on the floor and flopped onto my bed.
