Page 87 of Waiting for Friday Night

Shania’s face brightened. “I was hoping you noticed. Grandma got them for me.”

Halle blinked. “Grandma?”

“Yeah, Grandma Laura. I told her that I like them and then she got them for me. She dropped them off after practice yesterday.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Even more important: why hadn’t Quinton told her? He’d jacked off with her but hadn’t thought to mention that his mom had bought her daughter shoes?

“I wasn’t thinking about it. I had practice and then you were busy on the phone getting stuff ready for the Business Guild meeting. I just thought I’d see if you noticed. I’m telling you now.”

“She shouldn’t be buying you gifts.”

“Why not? She’s my grandmother.”

“Because.” She hesitated as her mind scrambled for a reason other than Halle didn’t like it. That she felt uncomfortable accepting gifts from Quinton’s parents. That she was going to get Shania the same shoes for Christmas and Laura had swept in and stolen her thunder. “She just shouldn’t. She’s not a normal grandmother.”

Shania gave her a you can’t be serious expression. “Just because you and Coach Q didn’t...you know, doesn’t mean she’s not my grandma. Plus, she wants to do nice stuff for me.”

“It’s not her right to do that.”

“It is her right. Why can’t you just be happy for me? I found my dad and my grandparents. You got to have grandparents. Why can’t I?”

Guilt tried to stifle Halle’s justification, but she refused to let it. She was right in this. She didn’t mind Laura and Willie getting to know Shania, but she didn’t want them to believe she needed to be showered with gifts. She’d tried hard to teach Shania that she had to earn the things she wanted. She couldn’t have them come in and undermine that. “What did I tell you about accepting gifts?”

Shania scoffed and looked toward the sky. “Mom, this is my grandmother. She’s not some guy trying to take advantage of me or someone who’s going to think I owe them something. She’s just being nice. You just don’t like that it’s not just you anymore.”

Halle sucked in a breath. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Just that you liked being the only person in my life. You got to dictate everything and be the only influence. Now I’ve got a dad and grandparents and you don’t want anyone else to do anything for me.”

“That’s not true and you know it. You don’t know your grandparents’ income situation. If buying those shoes hurts them financially.”

“Coach Q has money,” Shania said, sounding a little less confident.

“He played professionally, but his parents didn’t. He’s now teaching high school math and coaching football. You don’t know how much money any of them have. Those shoes cost two hundred dollars. Give them back.”

Shania sighed. “Mom.”

Halle held up a hand. “Don’t mom me. Give them back.”

Shania crossed her arms. “I’ll ride the bus.”

“The hell you will. I’m late because I waited on you. Now get in the car and be happy that I’m dropping you off.”

Shania huffed but headed out the door. Halle pressed a finger to her temple and took a deep breath. She just had to get through the day and then she’d deal with Quinton and his parents and the expensive shoes. She was not about to stand aside and let them undercut everything she’d taught her daughter. Shania was not a spoiled kid, and just because she suddenly had grandparents didn’t mean she was about to become one.

That afternoon, Halle left Shania at home doing homework and went to return the shoes to Quinton’s parents. Her daughter had pouted but hadn’t repeated her earlier comments about Halle overreacting. Halle supposed her lecture about not knowing her grandparents’ financial situation had stuck. Honestly, Halle didn’t know if they were still struggling financially. She doubted that they were. Quinton had played professionally, and he’d mentioned once that he’d taken care of his parents once he’d gone pro. But that didn’t mean they could spend indiscriminately on Shania.

She rang the doorbell and took a deep breath as she waited. She hoped they understood what she was saying and didn’t get upset about her returning the gift.

Quinton came to the door a few seconds after she rang the bell. He looked as if he’d recently showered and changed after football practice. The smell of body wash hovered around him, and he was dressed in joggers and a T-shirt.

He smiled when he saw her. “What are you doing here?”

He looked so happy to see her. She thought about their late-night pillow talk. His excited, choppy breaths. How she’d imagined it was his hands touching her as their eyes locked virtually.

Halle cleared her throat and broke eye contact. She came here for a reason. She needed to stick to it. “I came by to return something.” When he frowned, she held up the shoebox.

His frown deepened. “Nikes?”

---