Great. This again.
“You’ve been here for two years, now, and as far as I’m aware, have only spent time with me. When’s the last time you went on a date?”
“Mother—”
“And what about friends, Eva? You used to be out every night.”
“When I was a teenager. Things are different now.”
“Still. I don’t need a babysitter twenty-four-seven. You need a life, Eva.” She had her best no-nonsense voice on, and Eva blinked at her across the table, forgetting all about her half-eaten pasta.
This was not the dinner time conversation she’d been expecting.
To be honest, it wasn’t one she’d ever been expecting—her mother wasn’t usually this pushy.
Eva knew she shouldn’t have let her mother and Angela watchLove Is Blind.
“I know you don’t. But I’m happy with the way things are, Mom. I don’t need more than I already have.”
“But aren’t you lonely? How long has it been since Victoria?”
Her mother knew exactly how long it had been since her last breakup, considering it was the distance when Eva had moved to Chicago that had been their demise.
It was the second time in one day Eva had thought of Victoria, and it made her lip curl. Instead of answering, Eva turned the question on her mother. “And what about you? It’s been thirty years since Dad left.” And never came back. Was bringing it up a low blow? Yes, but Eva wanted to end this conversation as quickly as possible. “Aren’t you lonely?”
“That’s different.”
Eva raised an eyebrow, and her mother sighed.
“It is, and besides, I have friends. People to talk to.”
“And I have work.” Sure, teaching teenagers about the wonders of biology wasn’t the same as venting to a friend over cocktails, but it worked for her. “I’m fine with the way things are, Mom.” Eva reached across the table to pat the back of her hand, trying to ease the frown on her mother’s face. “I am. So can we drop this please?”
“Fine.”
She didn’t look particularly happy about it, though.
Somehow, Eva doubted she’d heard the last of it.
Chapter 3
If Eva had been incharge of the school schedule, she’d strike off homeroom completely. The fifteen minutes she spent taking attendance and making announcements could be put to much better use—or easily incorporated into the first class of the day, which was how they’d used to do things when she was in high school.
Unfortunately, her opinions on the timetable would never be sought after. At least she had a decent mix of kids in front of her—twelve sophomores, all of whom she’d taught the year before and knew exactly how she liked things.
When the bell rang, they all scrambled to gather their belongings, ready to disperse across the school for a day of learning.
“Could you wait behind, Carly?” Eva called over the sound of books being shoved into bags. “I’d like a word.”
“Ooh, you’re in trouble.”
“That isn’t a helpful comment, Sean,” Eva said, and Carly laughed when his cheeks turned pink. “Would you like to be in trouble?”
“No, ma’am.” Sean ducked his head and slouched to the door, and Eva waited until it had closed behind him before turning her attention to the young woman at the front of the room.
“Is there anything you want to tell me?” Eva said, folding her arms across her chest and watching Carly scowl down at the floor. “Your whereabouts after school tonight, for example?” Silence. Eva sighed. “It’s the second day of the semester, Carly. Detention already?”
“Didn’t you have like, twenty kids in detention last night?” Carly fired back, glancing away from the floor to offer Eva a look of defiance.
