I’m suddenly nervous, jittery, and feeling like I’m not good enough for all of this wonderful boy. I can’t find the words to say yes, so I nod.
He smiles and kisses me again. “We’re official now.”
“I like the sound of that,” I say, taking his hand and stepping back into the hallway. “Official.”
Someone calls my name. I don’t recognize the girl who rushes up to me, out of breath. “There you are,” she says, holding out a piece of paper. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
I take the paper. It’s pink. It has the AP’s office checked at the top. All those happy feelings I’d had with Jonah just seconds ago vanish. They’re taken away, sliced in half with this piece of paper that’s making me go see that woman again.
I turn to Jonah. “Tell April I’ll probably miss lunch.”
He frowns and pulls me into a hug. “Good luck.”
Mrs. Reese doesn’t make me wait outside her office forever like she did last time. She ushers me right in, telling me to sit. She’s smiling and talking in a kind voice, so maybe she’s in a good mood. I’m still not very thrilled with being here.
There’s a picture on her desk of her and my ex step-dad, their faces leaning toward each other on a roller coaster ride.
“What can I do for you?” I say.
“Just wanted to have an update, Natalie.” Mrs. Reese beams at me and looks at her computer screen. “You now have four B’s, two A’s, and only one C on this report card. I am so very proud of you.”
“What can I say, the tutoring helped.”
Her smile shifts into one less convincing. “Natalie, I spoke with a few of your teachers this morning and they all said you seemed upset about something. Can I ask what’s bothering you?”
“It’s nothing school related,” I say, waving her off with my hand. “Just a little disappointed that my mom wants to sell the store.”
“Why would she do that?” Mrs. Reese says, her voice softening as if she’s talking about a friend instead of her husband’s ex-wife.
I shrug. “We’re not making enough money.”
She leans forward and takes a pen, then writes something on a small notepad. “You should talk to your dad,” she says, sliding the paper to me. It contains a phone number and an email address. “He could help you.”
“I’m not asking my mom’s ex-husband for money,” I say, shoving the paper back across her desk.
“Honey—” Frown lines form around her mouth and then she tries to smile at me. “Don’t think of him like that. Think of him as your adopted dad. He cares a lot about you, Natalie.”
“He doesn’t call me. He hasn’t emailed or written or seen me at all.”
“That’s because you told him not to.”
I flinch. “What? No I didn’t.”
Her eyes flicker with something unreadable, and then she frowns again. She slides the paper back to me. “Maybe you should reach out and let him know there’s been a misunderstanding.”
“Did my mom tell him I don’t want to see him?” I ask. My throat feels dry and I try to think of a world where Mom did that to me. Of course, she also lied to me about having major debt, so maybe she did this as well.
“I don’t have the answers, Natalie. But I do know your dad has a college fund set up for you. He has child support he wanted to pay but your mom wouldn’t accept.”
I swallow. “Are you serious?”
She nods slowly, pity all over her face. “He misses you.”
“I don’t want money from him.”
“That’s fine.” She pushes the paper closer to my hand. “Maybe just a phone call. I know he would be so happy to hear from you.”
Chapter 28
