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“I knew that you were counting on us to visit, but you’ll have to wait for winter’s break.”If I don’t have to move back home,I think wryly. “Let’s talk about something happier. How are you? How are things going?”
If she only knew.
Mom is always making the most challenging questions without realizing it. But I don’t want to drop more weight on her shoulders. If Bree’s cousin is as good as she says, I might have a chance to hide all of this from my parents. I don’t need to make her worry. And if I do end up losing my scholarship, I guess dad won’t have to stress about going back to work because I’m going to end up doing that for him.
“It’s going well. The classes are hard, but I’m doing my best. I have to hang up because I’m meeting a classmate to study,” I tell her, checking my watch to see if I’m not running late to meet Bree.
She will call this off if I’m late.
“Oh, is it a girl?” Her curiousness comes to light, and I roll my eyes, knowing the path that this conversation is taking.
“Yes, mom. It’s a girl,” I specify through clenched teeth.
She pauses, pursing her lips together to fight a smile. “And… is she pretty?”
Oh, my God. I returned to high school.
As I shake my head, I can’t help but think of the answer. Bree’s chaotic appearance claws its way to my mind, installing before I can stop it. I can’t remember a single time where I’ve seen that girl put effort into the way she looks.
Her hair is always a tangled mess, she doesn’t wear makeup, and she doesn’t bother picking a presentable outfit to class. Bree’s closet seems to be full of leggings and hoodies. But even when I don’t have a single memory of hertrying tolook good, she doesn’t need it. I can’t say that she’s ugly, because she isn’t. I’d be feeding me lies. Bree’s beauty is effortless; she has olive skin that gives her a light bronze, hazel eyes, and her face is covered by a net of freckles.
However, it doesn’t matter what I think about her. I refuse to give my mom material to picture something that’s not happening between Bree and me. The girl can barely stand my presence without wanting to kill me. The mere fact that she’s willing to share her fountain of chemistry knowledge with me is surprising enough. Not that I blame her for feeling murder-ish toward me. A couple of days ago, the feeling was entirely mutual.
“She’s normal, I guess.” I tilt my head as the lie slips from my lips in a neutral tone.
Mom scoffs. “Boo, you’re a party pooper. Someday you’ll find a girl that’s going to be your forever fuck partner, and not just for a hookup.”
“Mom!” I exclaim, and a loud laugh erupts from my lips.
“What?” she asks, batting her lashes with innocence. “Back in my day,studyingwas a code for something else.”
Jesus Christ.A shiver runs down my spine with her comment. Maybe we’re exceeding some trust boundaries because there’s no way that Bree and I are ever ending up like that. She’s not my type.
“Please, stop,” I beg, a mortified timber decorating my tone. “I’m not sleeping with Bree.”
“Oh, so Bree’s the lucky girl of the week, huh?” she quips and arches a brow.
For fuck’s sake.
This was a mistake. Her mind went to a whole different place, one that shouldn’t be visited.
“You got it all wrong. We’re just studying at the library. Surrounded by a lot of people. Nothing more,” I reassure.
She doesn’t buy my words because her lips curve into a mischievous smile.
“Right. If you say so,” she mutters.
“Ugh, stop.”
She laughs and blows me a kiss. “Go on, kiddo. Oh, but don’t forget to take condoms with you. You never know what could happen on the way. Especially on the shelves of the library…”
This has to stopnow.“Mom!”
“Bye, kiddo!” She winks at me and hangs up.
I arriveat the library two minutes late, but the good thing is that Bree’s not here yet. The place is full of students, the collective murmur of their voices vibrating in my chest. There’s no sight of Bree in here. Her messy hair is nowhere to be seen, and that gives me relief.
I walk around for a minute, my eyes traveling the extension of the library to see if I can spot her. Maybe we should meet in a less crowded place because the noise is powerful and distracting. Besides, it’s riskier when we don’t have much privacy.
