Page 13 of Steps

“Turn that crap down!” Daniel yells up to him fromthe entryway.

When we reach inside my room, Mom shuts the doorand folds her arms tightly at the waist. Her expression shifts to annoyanceright away.

“What the hell, Toya. Didn’t we just have thisconversation last night? Why are you trying to sabotage my happiness?”

My eyes bug out. “What are you talking about? Ihaven’t done anything.”

“Oh, really? So you never told Daniel about theone time my ex tried to mess with you?”

More than once, Mom. More than one ex.

“I didn’t tell him anything.” My voice comes outlow as the gross memory attacks my mind.

She sighs. “But he figured it out. So clearly youslipped up somewhere.” Mom unfolds her arms and rifles her curls. “Toya, I’veapologized. I’ve now moved on to someone much better. Someone who might evenhelp pay for your college education and yet you’re trying to ruin it.”

“I’m not, and I don’t want this man’s money. I’mgetting a scholarship.”

She throws up her hands. “Oh, Toya, you’re sonaïve. A full-ride scholarship is a longshot.”

It hurts that she doesn’t believe in me. “Mygrades are excellent, Mom. I score in the top of my classes all the time. You’dknow that if you paid attention to something else other than finding a man.”

Oops. I’ve sassed her.

Her chestnut eyes flare, and her jaw drops. Shepoints at me and speaks in a hushed yet angry tone. “You watch your damnmouth.” Collecting herself, she slants to the door. “Stop bringing up thingsfrom the past. It’s only one more year with me. Just keep it together for mysake until you turn eighteen, then you can do whatever you want. Don’t ruinthis for me before that happens, Toya. Please.”

Mom pivots and leaves. A tear trickles down myface.

I’m always keeping it together for her. Protectingher happiness. But what about me? She overlooks me often and blames me for herlife turning out this way.

Well, one more year of this shit and we’ll be donewith each other.

Suppressing the hurt, I wipe away the tears and goback upstairs to have dinner with Daniel, Mom, and surprisingly, Varen.

In between eating, I notice he’ll pause and stareat me. Whenever our eyes meet, heat rises in places it shouldn’t. I struggle toblock the memory of lying on top of him in his bed, and the way he throbbedagainst me.

Sheesh!

“How about next Friday?” Daniel asks Mom, snappingme back to reality.

I chug my water to cool down and pay attention totheir conversation.

Mom blinks at Daniel, confused. “Next Friday?”

He chortles. “Dinner at the house. I want tocelebrate our engagement.”

“Oh.” She giggles. “Of course. We’ll plan for it.”

They share a sweet smile.

She flicks to me briefly and lowers her head tocontinue eating.

Varen finishes in no time, wipes his mouth with anapkin, and stands up to leave. “I’m going to the movies.”

“On a school night?” Daniel sputters, deadserious.

This only draws a shrug from Varen. “It’s forEnglish. I have to write a compelling summary.”

A damn lie.

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