Page 6 of Steps

“Ooh, that’s new.” She twists her mouth in thoughtand plays with a braid, red-painted nails enviable. “Do you want your mom tomarry this guy?”

“Don’t know him. But what I want has nevermattered. I came close to being raped before. Did that make her reconsider herlife choices? Nope. She’s still desperately looking for love.”

Kenya braces over and gives my shoulder asupportive squeeze. “At least you’ll be eighteen next year and off to collegewhere you won’t have to deal with her.”

The thought makes me happy and just as sad.“Despite everything, she’s still my mom, and I’m always going to look out forher.”

“But she doesn’t protect you, Toya. Never have.”

I frown. “She was a kid when she had me. Shedoesn’t know better.”

A smile twists her plump, glossy lips. “You have abig heart, girl. No matter how she hurts you, she still has your love.”

“Hmm.” I sigh and chug the rest of my juice. Thebell rings, ending the break. “Anyway, let’s get to class. I need scholarshipsto make it out of here.”

After my final class, I head outside to meet Kenyain the student lot. She’s giving me a ride home since she doesn’t have to workuntil later that evening.

I’m surprised to see the familiar handsome boy atmy school, wearing a simple white graphic tee and blue jeans. He appears to bewaiting for me.

“Hey.” Varen waves me over.

Girls linger nearby gawking at him and hisexpensive looking black Audi. Crazy that his dad allows him to drive such a carat eighteen. But who am I to judge?

Forehead creased, I saunter up to him. “Varen,what are you doing here?”

He opens the passenger door for me. “My fathersuggested we get to know each other. Come on. Let’s bond.”

“Oh.” I gulp profoundly and clutch my bag strap.

“Coming?” he presses, arching a thick brow. He hasa mischievous expression that makes me fuzzy all over.

If my mom’s new relationship works out, better tobe friends with Daniel’s kids.

I clear the iffy thoughts and get in, instantlyrelaxing in the leather seat. Inside the car smells woodsy, like him.

Varen revs out of the lot soon after. He drives overthe speed limit on the main road, making me nervous.

I’m clinging to the seatbelt for dear life,anxiety flooding me. “Um, could you slow down please.”

He looks at me, chuckles, then eases up on thegas. “Sorry.”

I calm my pounding heart and relax in the seat.“Where are we going, anyway?”

“To my funhouse,” he says coolly.

What the hell is a funhouse?

Varen drives until we reach a suburban areasimilar to where he lives, but closer to a river. He turns down a gravel roadand comes to a stop at a large brown house with lots of trees, unnaturallooking manicured grass, and two SUVs parked out front.

Hopping out of the car, Varen starts toward thestone walkway. He stalls and peers back at me, waiting.

“You can let yourself out, right?” he asks,sarcasm lacing his tone.

“Ugh.” I huff and open the car. He continues tothe door as I walk up, entering ahead of me.

As fancy as the house looks, it smells like skunkand alcohol inside. Music booms from a speaker nearby.

“Hey-hey, V!” A tan, lanky guy with curly blondehair greets, coming down the passage toward Varen. They give each otherfist-bumps.

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