Page 40 of In Too Deep

“Cat,” I shout, throwing my hands up. “Mom finally agreed to let her come over, but she doesn’t want to see me.”

Her hand lands on her hip, her lips twisting as she huffs. “And that’s why you’re in here screaming and throwing shit? I’m starting to think Mom might be right about that girl.”

My jaw ticks, and I shake my head in protest. “No, she’s not. I screwed up. Cat is right to be upset with me. I need to see her so I can make things right.”

“Fine,” Kristen sighs, rolling her eyes as she takes a seat on my bed. “If it’s really that important to you, call her back and let me talk to her. I’ll get her here.”

* * *

Kristen worked her magic, and Cat finally agreed to come over. For the past two hours, I’ve been waiting outside in the sweltering heat, playing basketball to keep my nerves at bay. When I finally see her pulling into the driveway, my heart jumps into my throat, my basketball long forgotten as it rolls into the grass. I remain rooted while she gets out of the car, my eyes taking in every inch of her as she walks toward me. She’d taken the time to curl her hair and put makeup on, making me feel self-conscious about my basketball shorts and sweat covered body.

By the time she comes to a stop in front of me, I’m too tongue-tied to speak, and I gape at her like an idiot instead.

Her cheeks go pink, and she gives me a shy smile. “Hey.”

I clear my throat. “Hi. Do you want to come in? I should probably shower.”

The color on her cheeks deepens, but she nods her head in agreement, following behind me as I make my way inside.

“Lawrence,” my mother calls from the kitchen as I close the door behind Cat. “When is that girl going to be here?”

“She’s right here, Ma.”

She pops her head out of the kitchen, eyeing Cat up and down with disapproval before disappearing again without so much as a hello. I give Cat an apologetic look as I shrug my shoulder and motion for her to follow me to my room. Cat’s eyes roam around my bedroom once I shut us inside, her hands fidgeting with her hair and clothes. This is the first time she’s ever been in my bedroom, and I’m feeling a little exposed.

Her glare lands on the poster of a bikini-clad supermodel taped to the back of my door, and I mentally scold myself for not taking it down when she turns to me with a smirk on her face. “Interesting poster.”

“I think so,” I reply, averting my eyes in embarrassment.

Feeling awkward and very aware I’m alone with Cat in my bedroom now, I rush to grab some clean clothes before excusing myself and heading to the bathroom. My shower is quick and cold, giving me a chance to cool off, both literally and figuratively. Once I’ve thrown on my clothes and some cologne, I swing open the bathroom door and find my mother standing in the hallway waiting. She has one hand on her hip, the phone in the other.

“I thought we agreed you wouldn’t have the girl in your room.”

“I’m not in there with her, I just needed to take a shower,” I answer in my defense.

Her eyes narrow. “You two better find somewhere else to be other than your room. Here, the phone is for you.”

Before I can tell her to take a message, she shoves the phone into my hand and makes her way back into the kitchen.

“Hello.”

“What girl is your mom talking about?” Robbie’s tone is agitated and full of accusation, and my stomach churns with dread. I don’t want to get into this with him right now, but I don’t want to lie to him anymore either.

“Cat.”

My answer is met with silence, Robbie taking several seconds before he replies. “I didn’t realize you and Cat were speaking again.”

“Today was the first time in a while,” I admit.

“That’s funny. She didn’t mention she was going to your house when I spoke to her.”

When he spoke to her? What the fuck?

My fist balls at my side as I eye my bedroom door down the hall. “You talked to her?”

“Yeah. We’ve been talking every day.”

There’s no missing the smugness in his words, and anger begins to boil in my gut.

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