Page 40 of These Pucking Boys: Part Two

No sooner do I get home, than my mother calls me. I was looking forward to doing nothing for at least ten minutes before taking Winston out for his walk. But I can’t ignore her call, especially since I know she wants to talk about April’s surprise visit. I made April call our parents yesterday, but that conversation probably wasn’t enough for our mother.

“Hey, Mom. How’s April?”

“In a bitchy mood after your father grounded her for a month.”

“Oh dear....” I take my shoes off and collapse on the couch. Apollo jumps on my lap and gets comfortable there.

“Well, she went too far this time.”

“I know.” I scratch behind Apollo’s ears, making him purr. I wishIwas getting a head massage. This conversation with Mom is already giving me a headache.

“I mean, what was she thinking? I already told her she has to pay back every cent she spent.”

“As she should,” I reply, not really buying that Mom will follow through with her threat.

“All right. I didn’t call to complain about your sister. I want to know the truth.”

I sit straighter. “What do you mean?”

“I wasn’t born yesterday, June. I know April didn’t hop on a flight to LA because she was worried about you.”

Shit. I can’t tell Mom the truth. She’ll have a cow, and April will be grounded forever. She’ll never forgive me if I blabber.

“You’re right to be suspicious. But I can’t help you. April told me nothing.”

“I don’t believe that for a second. If your sister is in some kind of trouble, lying for her will only do more harm.”

“I’m not lying, Mom.” My ears burn. If she could see my face now, she’d know my pants are on fire.

There’s a knock on the door. It’s probably one of the boys, but I don’t want my mother to realize I have company. I nudge Apollo off my lap and get up.

“Maybe April had a fight with Jenny,” I say as I stride to the front door.

“I don’t think so. Jenny also got in trouble for covering for your sister.”

I open the door before whoever is outside decides to call my name and give their presence away. I’m distracted by the conversation with my mother, and when I see all my boys in the hallway, I let out a little squeak of joy.

“What was that?” she asks.

“Nothing.”

Damn it. Why are they looking hotter than tamales when I probably look like a bat straight out of hell? I’m barefoot, my dress is wrinkled, and I know there’s a chocolate stain on my skirt. In short, I’m a hot mess. But despite that, if I wasn’t on the phone with my mother, I’d jump into their arms. But Iamspeaking with her, so I press my forefinger against my lips before I let them in.

“It sounded like you saw a mouse or something,” Mom replies.

“Nothing of the sort. But I have to take the dog out for his walk. Can I call you later?”

“Oh... all right. Take care, June.”

She called me June, not hon or sweetheart. That means I’m also in the doghouse. That’s what I get for covering for April, which sucks for me. It doesn’t matter that I’m adult and don’t live close to them. No one in our family enjoys being on Mom’s shit list.

I put the phone away and smile at my boys. “Hi.”

“Who were you talking to, Peaches?” Ryan asks.

“My mother. She wanted to grill me about April. What are you doing here?” I widen my eyes, and before they can reply, I add, “Oh shit. Did we make plans and I forgot?”

They chuckle, making my face turn into a furnace.

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