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He drew back. "My uncle Peter is meeting me at home in an hour. I have an appointment with some big wig from Stanford. "
She drew back. "On Sunday? I thought--"
"Hes only in town for the weekend. You can come along. "
Her smile faded, along with her romantic hopes for the day. "Yeah, right. " If hed really wanted her to come along, he would have asked her before now.
"
Dont be that way. "
"Come on, David. Quit dreaming. Im not going to get a scholarship at Stanford, and I dont have Mommy and Daddy to write a check. You, however, could get into USC. "
It was an old discussion. His heavy sigh showed that he was tired of it. "First of all, you can get into Stanford. Second of all, if youre at USC, well see each other plenty. We love each other, Lauren. It doesnt go away because of a few miles. "
"A few hundred miles. " She stared up at the tattered acoustical tile ceiling. A water stain blossomed across one corner. She wished she could smile. "I have to work today, anyway. "
He pulled her closer, gave her one of those slow kisses that made her heart beat faster. She felt her anger dissolve. When he finally released her and got out of bed, she felt cold.
He gathered up the tux and redressed.
She sat up in bed with the blankets pulled across her bare breasts. "I had a great time last night. "
He walked around the bed and sat down beside her. "You worry too much. "
"Look around you, David. " She heard the throatiness of her voice. With anyone else, it would have been embarrassing. "Ive always had to worry. "
"Not about me. I love you. "
"I know that. " And she did. She believed it with every cell in her body. She clung to him, kissed him. "Good luck. "
After hed gone, Lauren sat there a long time, alone, staring at the open door. Finally, she got out of bed and took a hot shower, then dressed and walked down the hallway. She stopped at her mothers bedroom door. She could hear snoring coming from inside.
A familiar longing filled her. She touched the door, wondering if her mother had even thought about the dance last night.
Ask her.
Sometimes, in the early morning, when the sunlight slanted just so through the dusty blinds, Mom woke up almost happy. Maybe this would be one of those days; Lauren needed it to be. She knocked quietly and opened the door. "Mom?"
Her mother lay in bed, sprawled across the top of the blankets. In a flimsy old T-shirt, she looked spindly and too thin. She wasnt eating enough lately.
Lauren paused. It was one of those rare moments when she remembered how young her mother was. "Mom?" She went into the room and sat down on the edge of the bed.
Mom rolled onto her back. Without opening her eyes, she murmured, "What time is it?"
"Not even ten. " She wanted to push the hair out of her mothers eyes, but she didnt dare. It was the kind of intimacy that could ruin everything.
Mom rubbed her eyes. "I feel like shit. Phoebe and I partied pretty hard last night. " She grinned sleepily. "No surprise there. "
Lauren leaned forward. "Im the homecoming queen," she said quietly, still not quite believing it. She couldnt contain her smile.
"Huh?" Moms eyes slid shut again.
"The dance? It was last night," Lauren said, but already she knew shed lost her mothers attention. "Never mind. "
"I think Ill call in sick today. I feel like shit. " Mom rolled over again. Within seconds, she was snoring.
Lauren refused to be disappointed. It had been stupid to expect anything else. Some lessons should have been learned a long time ago.
