Page 117 of Steps

Mom stops me. “Oh, hey, I noticed you’ve beenwriting more lately.”

I glance at her sideways. “Yeah, I have a lot onmy mind.”

Sadness contorts her features as she angles herhead and regards me. “I wish you’d talk to me. I am here, Toya. I just want usto be better.”

“It’s...” I pick at the shopping bags. What I wantto talk to her about is Varen. How excited our love makes me feel. How wild anddangerous. Gesturing to the stove, I say instead, “Don’t burn dinner.”

“Right!” She pivots to the pot, stirring it.

I tread downstairs to my room, close the door, anddrop the bags on the floor. I still feel Varen inside me. His touch on my skin.I can’t imagine giving him up. But I also want to fix my relationship with mymom. To have both, I have to sneak around with Varen and pretend we aren’ttogether. But is that really the only way?

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“Let’s go! Let’s go!”

I literally want to punch Alison for dragging meout of bed early the following morning.

“We have to keep up the lie,” she says as wepower-walk down the block. “Dad will ask questions if we never go after lastweek.”

“Yeah, right.” I scoff. “Be honest. You just wantto torture me.”

She chuckles. “That too. Now move it! More effort,more power in your steps.”

I grumble, “I’m doing my best. I told you I hate exercising.”

“That’s what lazy people say. Let’s go!”

My eyes widen as she switches from walking tojogging. “Pick it up!”

“Hell no. Running was never part of the plan.”

She pats my arm. “Come on, Latoya. Give it a go!”

Alison jogs ahead on the sidewalk, blonde ponytaildancing in her back. She waves at an old couple running past us.

Seeing their stamina propels me to do better. Iincrease my pace, jogging to catch up to Alison. We eye each othercompetitively. Before I know it, we’re full-on racing.

Alison beats me on the way back to the house. Ibuckle over and dry-heave, fighting to catch my breath.

“Nice start, little sis,” she teases. Herbreathing is steadier than mine. I’m even sweatier.

“Hey, go easy on me next time,” I rasp out andstagger past her inside the house.

Alison enters behind me and closes the door. “Soyou want to do this again? Cool.” She snickers devilishly as she climbs thestairs to her room.

What the hell have I gotten myself into?

Saturday evening while we’re having dinner, Iwatch the time on the distressed, circular clock on the wall in the diningroom. A gift from Daniel’s father.

Anticipation flows through me like a rushingriver. I can’t wait to see my boyfriend tonight.

“Let’s go see a movie,” Daniel suggests, zappingme out of my naughty thoughts.

What? No!

“Yeah, something funny,” Mom chimes in. “I can’thandle thrillers or action right now.” She rubs her tummy where a bump isstarting to show on her petite frame.

Alison scrolls through her phone. “The Spy WhoDumped Meseems funny based on the trailer.”

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