“He can afford to put a swing over the pool, and he can afford me.” Mom runs her index finger against a taupe velvet that matches the color of her skinny jeans. Like Mona, Mom has great taste in fashion.
As she tips her wineglass to her mouth, I almost tell her about the contest, but chicken out. Instead, I remind her of my phone’s dire state.
“I thought…” She leans back in her chair and shoots me the strangest look. “Didn’t you just get a new phone?”
“It wasn’tthatnew.”
She frowns. “It’s still in the box.”
“What box?”
“Over there.” She points to the white marble console table by our front door that looks like a roll of toilet paper flew off the holder and unspooled—but prettier. On top of it lies a small box.
I stride over to the table and pick up the box. “Where did you get this?”
“It was in our mailbox.”
Ten’s face pops into my mind. Did he get me a new phone?
“Next time, please warn me before making such a big purchase, okay?” she says.
“I didn’t buy it.”
“Then where did it come from?”
“I, uh, have no clue.” I pause. “Actually, maybe I do.”
Her eyebrows almost converge on her forehead. “Okay…”
“I should go set it up.” I head up the stairs and into my bedroom to get out of Mom’s line of sight while I check the accuracy of my hunch. I dig the phone out of the box, plug my chip inside it, then power it on. After I finish setting it up, I stroke the pristine screen that feels like velvet under my thumb.
ME:Did you get me a phone?
A couple of seconds later, a message pops up:Who’s this?
ME:Angie.
BEAST:I owed you one, didn’t I?
ME:You owed me a new screen. Not a new phone!!
BEAST:Costs the same.
ME:No it doesn’t.
Pulse drumming, I text:I can’t accept it.
For a long moment, he doesn’t answer. But then the wordBeastflashes on my screen. I bite my lip. Texting him is one thing, but talking to him… that’s something else. I suck in some courage and answer.
“Did you take it out of the box?” he asks.
Shoot.I hadn’t thought about that.
“I’ll pay you back, then, but it’s going to take me a couple of months to get you the whole amount. My allowance—”
“Angie, keep the phone. And keep your money.”
“But—”
