Page 61 of Spiteful Lies

I swallow hard. “Nova, Derick, and I…we checked all the charity and secondhand shops for stuff we thought might be your mother’s. We asked each manager if there might be more stuff in the back. Luckily, we found the place that had her stuff, and there was a box of personal items that they hadn’t thrown out yet.”

Charlotte picks up a stack of letters tied together with a faded yellow ribbon and holds it in her trembling hands. “I don’t know how to thank you. I don’t think I ever can.”

“You don’t have to, Charlotte. I meant it when I said we were sisters.”

She flings herself toward me, and I catch her in a hug. I hold her tight, feeling her body shake in my arms. I’ve never seen Charlotte like this before—torn apart by raw emotion. She shouldn’t be this sad. It’s not who she is. I’m so scared for her, but I won’t mention the scholarship again.

She pulls back and places her hand on an old photo album. “I’m sure there’s a picture of her in here.” Charlotte smiles again when she opens the cover, and a photo of an impossibly beautiful woman appears. Her mother has the same coloring as Charlotte, but her features are classic, as if she was sculpted from marble.

“Your mother was very beautiful, like her daughter,” I say.

“Astrid, don’t make me cry again.” She smiles. “I’m limiting you to only one cry when we meet.”

We hug again, and that’s how Nova finds us. “Your mother is wondering where you disappeared to,” she says to me. “Your neighbor is hitting on her, and the man cannot read body language, but I can. You need to save her.”

Charlotte jumps up. “I’ll go, Nova. I’m a sniper when it comes to shooting them down. And thank you for the box.”

“You let me know if you need me again, okay?” They clasp hands briefly before Charlotte disappears out the door.

I stop Nova before she can go. “I have something for you.” I wave her over then slide Charlotte’s box back under my bed. I reach underneath the bed and pull out a manila envelope.

“I hope you stuck to your agreement.” Nova eyes me as I stand up from the floor.

“Which is?” I ask.

“No gifts over twenty dollars,” she replies sternly.

I laugh. “Well, technically, I didn’t pay for this gift. And the paper it’s written on probably cost less than fifty cents.”

Nova slips the envelope out of my hand and gasps when she pulls the lease out for the gym.

“It’s the…” I start to explain.

“I know what it is. This is too much.”

“My name is still on it. I’m your angel investor, along with Wyatt. I don’t want you to worry about the costs right now. One day, you’ll be able to buy me out. I know you will. But for now, just concentrate on making it work.”

“Thank you so much.” She hugs me. “I feel like a jerk now.”

“Why?” I ask, looking at her.

“Our gift isn’t as special,” she explains, “We decided to make the gym neutral and get rid of the butterfly logo. We want everyone to feel welcomed, no matter what school they attend.” Nova leans out the door and shouts for Derick until he comes into the bedroom. “Show her the gift.”

Derick reaches under the pile of coats and pulls out a heavyweight cardboard tube and hands it to me.

I squawk with delight when I see my phoenix tattoo in the center of the poster. The wings rise above the flames. Above the image is writtenPhoenix Total Fight Gym. And below it is a tagline,Ascend to the next level.

“We sort of named the gym after you,” explains Derick, “You were definitely the inspiration.”

I sniff loudly and wipe my nose with my hand but don’t give a shit. I’m happy. “Aww, man, group hug.” I hold open my arms, and we crowd in together, holding onto each other as if nothing has changed. But life is changing into something better for us.

“Well this is touching.” Mom stands in the doorway, smiling at us. “But when you’re done, could you entertain the guests? It’s getting loud in there.”

“That’s not the lyrics to that classic song.” Derick grips Mom’s hand and ignores her feeble protest. “You won’t notice the volume once you start dancing, Ms. Bowen.”

We follow behind, dancing as Derick pulls Mom out onto the floor. She laughs and, surprisingly, keeps moving, matching Derick’s best steps. She even stays out there for Megan Thee Stallion and shakes butt with Derick, who applauds her efforts.

“He’s so happy,” Nova speaks as softly as she can, “When I was in jail, I promised myself I’d never go back. And I know my history is changing.”

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