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“It’s okay,” I mumbled. “I’m just not…I haven’t gone out with anyone in a really long time.”Or ever.“I need to take it slow.”
“That’s okay. You’ve got all the power here, Ky. I’m just grateful to be part of your life at all.”
I smiled. “Well, let’s finish this homework. Then you can decide if you still want to be part of my life after being subjected to dinner with my mother.”
He laughed. “Even if she spends the entire time acting like she did when she first got home, I can take it. I promise.”
And there went another little piece of the wall I’d built up around my heart, crumbling to dust.
* * *
“I’m so sorry about my mom,” I muttered as I walked Ian to his truck.
I’d never been more humiliated in my entire life, which I was sure was my mom’s goal. Even though I was technically allowed to date now, which meant that she couldn’t tell me I wasn’t allowed to go to homecoming with Ian, that didn’t mean she couldn’t make it as difficult as possible for me.
And God, had she pulled outallthe stops trying. She’d turned what should have been a simple “getting to know you” event into an interrogation that could have given any serial crime drama a run for its money. From the second she’d sat down at the table, she’d started grilling him about everything from who he spent time with to why he was playing football to his home life. And I swear, she’d actually asked him what his intentions toward me were. Those exact words. Because obviously we’d jumped into a time machine and landed in the 1950’s. I’d wanted a hole to open up in the floor and swallow me when she said that. But he’d just smiled and said that he really liked me and was having fun getting to know me.
“Yeah, she’s…kind of intense,” he chuckled. “Has she always been like that?”
“Pretty much. And she wonders why I barely have friends over,” I sighed.
“I told you, Ky. I can take it. You’re worth it,” he said with a smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He looked me right in the eyes, then moved to brush a feather-light kiss on my cheek, slowly enough that I could have backed away or stopped him if I hadn’t wanted it. But I was surprised to find that I didn’t mind it. It actually made me smile for the first time since sitting down at the dinner table.
“See you tomorrow,” I mumbled, turning around to go back inside.
My mom was scowling when I opened the door, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes. This was getting ridiculous.
“What did you say to him?” she demanded.
“You want the truth? I apologized for you interrogating him like a prisoner of war,” I spat. “What in the hellwasthat, Mom?”
“I have a right to know whomy daughterspends time with.”
“Yeah, you do. But there were a million ways you could have talked to him and gotten to know him tonight, and you chose the worst possible one.”
“If he doesn’t like being questioned, it means he’s hiding something. I don’t trust that boy, Kyler.”
“Is it Ian you don’t trust, or is it me?” I asked. “Because I’ve donenothingto earn this, and neither has he. Also, for your information, if you were trying to scare him off, it didn’t work.”
“Boys like him are only after one thing. But then again, you already knowall aboutthat one thing, don’t you?” she taunted.
Yep. Taunted. Just like a teenager. Like ninety-eight percent of the kids I went to school with.
I laughed sarcastically. “First of all, Ian’s beennothingbut respectful to me. And second of all, I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that those rumors are lies made up by someone who was mad that Iwouldn’tput out for him.”
It was sort of the truth. As much of the truth as I’d ever be comfortable telling her.
“Then why was your door closed this afternoon if he’s sonice and respectful?” she goaded.
I rolled my eyes, and I heard the sound of her palm hitting my cheek before I even registered the movement or the accompanying sting.
“Donotroll your eyes back in your head at me, young lady!” she yelled.
I took a couple of deep breaths to avoid crying. Crying wasn’t allowed in this house. Not when my mother was in one of her moods. When she was acting like this, I’d just get screamed at more and told that I wasn’tallowedto be upset because it was my fault she was acting this way.
“I told you, Mom. I let Cosette out. Yousawher hopping around with your own two eyes. Ian wanted to meet her, and I decided to let him watch her play while we studied, which I know you also saw the evidence of. My Pre-Cal textbook was right there on the bed, and so were our notebooks and pencils. What don’t you trust me?”
“Trust is earned,” she spat.
“I’ve never done anythingnotto earn it, Mom,” I sniffled, at the end of my rope. “You’re the one who decided to take what other people said at face value instead of believing your own daughter.”
“Because I know what teenagers are like! I was a teenager once too,” she growled. “I know all about raging hormones and experimenting with your sexuality, and I’m just trying to save you from my mistakes!”
“I’m not you, Mom. And for your information, the only thing I’ve ever done with Ian was let him kiss my cheek tonight,” I choked out, my voice breaking from the tears I refused to let fall.
And with that, I turned around and rushed into my bedroom, shutting and locking the door and picking up Cosette for comfort. She snuggled up against me and started licking my arm, and I smiled and kissed her head.
At least someone in this house loved me. It just happened to be a rabbit rather than my mother.
