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“I can’t believe this is happening to me,” he said.
“What’s that?”
“The L word,” he said, gazing down at me.
“Is that what it is? I’ve never been.”
“I’m pretty sure this is it.” He leaned down to kiss me. “I’ll see you in ten minutes. I’ll drive slow.”
I laughed again. “Thank you. No wrecks tonight.”
As soon as he was in his car, I thought of my mother. I needed to hear her voice, to try to feel Lucy through her again, if I could. We had lived inside the woman’s body for nearly nine months. She was as close to Lucy as I would get.
“You okay, Bellabug?” she asked.
“I’m okay, Mom. I’m sorry about everything.”
My words surprised me. It was a gut reaction. But the minute I said it, I knew I owed her an apology. For a bunch of things that had added up over the past six years, small disrespects, but especially for placing my own misery above her tremendous loss of Lucy.
The familiar sound I had coinedthe Lillian sobreached my ears.
“I hope I didn’t hurt you again,” I said.
“No, my dear.” She took a deep breath. “I’m so glad you’re my daughter.”
I didn’t give her a cocky response for a change. “Aw, Mom, thank you. I’m sorry I’ve disappointed you.” She protested, but I stopped her. “I’m going to take the boards again.”
“Oh, Bella, that’s wonderful. Is this something I can share?”
“I’d rather not. Not yet. If I pass them, I’ll let you have a party.” I grimaced. My mother knew I hated to call attention to myself like that. But then I decided I deserved a good gloat. “I’ve got to go. I’m seeing Flynn Safadi, and he’s waiting for me.”
“Bella! Whoa!”
“Yeah, I know. I feel the same way. Goodbye, Mom. Love you and Pop.”
I hurried and ended the call so I could catch up with Flynn, who was waiting at the corner. He flashed his lights when I approached, driving through the intersection ahead of me. I had invoked his name to get the better of my mother, and that made me laugh. Maybe I wasn’t such a loser if I could get a guy like Flynn.
I parked behind him in the driveway. We embraced and kissed when I got out of the car.
“I used your name just now.”
“Is that right? Patient referral?”
“Ha! No. I told my mother I was seeing you. I was trying to elevate myself in her eyes.”
I didn’t say it but I wondered again why he was interested in me. Then he said something that made me wonder if he was reading my mind.
“She might ask why you’d be interested in someone who has a reputation of being a player.” He slung his arm around my shoulders as we walked into the house.
“I know that’s all hype.”
“Good.” He bent down and kissed me, then stuck the key into the lock. “My mother is going to call you to apologize. They realized how rude they were because they didn’t get their way.”
I looked up and saw that his jaw was set. Maybe a hint of a tick there.
“Okay. It’s unnecessary, but I get it. If we’re headed anywhere…”
“We are, I hope,” he interrupted, taking my coat to hang up.
