Page 78 of Steps

18

Mom surprises the crap out of me when I spot herin the visitors’ lot on Tuesday. She hasn’t picked me up from school since Iwas a kid.

“Hey, how was your day?” she asks when I get inthe car.

“Good. Um, you didn’t have to come; I would’vegotten a ride from Kenya.”

She waves me off. “It’s fine, wanted to pick you upsince Varen has a meeting, and I’m on my way home from the cleaners, anyway.”

I peer behind at the dry-cleaned items on thebackseat.

“Hungry?” she asks, driving out of school. “Howabout chicken nuggets before dinner later?”

“Wow.” I squint at her. “I swear you’re a wholenew woman.”

Mom raises her shoulders in an exaggerated shrug.“Well, I told you I want to work on us.”

The wedding pops into my head. I chip at my fadingpurple nail polish. “Are you nervous? Two more weeks before we fly toScotland.”

She can’t help smiling. “A little bit. But I’mmore excited than anything.”

I observe her features as we come to a stop at thetraffic lights. She flicks on the indicator for the exit toWendy’s. Momtruly looks happy. I’ve been experiencing great happiness, too.

My first love.

It excites me and scares me all at once. I wish Icould discuss it with her, considering how nicer she is now. But I agreed towait until the end of summer. I don’t want to ruin her joy either.

“So, you and Varen have gotten thick,” she mutterssuddenly, startling me. “You’re practically best friends.”

“Um, I don’t think we’re that close.”

She chortles. “It’s fine, Toya. I’m glad you’regetting along.”If you only knew. “He seems to be doing well. But I’dhate for you to get involved in his problems.”

“Varen is a good person, Mom. Don’t judge him somuch.”

“I’m not, I just don’t want anyone affecting yourlife negatively.” She adds under her breath, “I’ve already done enough and needto fix it.”

My shoulders slouch. “Let’s just… not talk aboutthat.”

“Sorry.”

We arrive atWendy’sat last, and Momorders chicken nuggets and slushies. We finish everything in the car beforereaching home.

I help her carry the dry-cleaned clothes inside.Mom takes Daniel’s and hands me Varen’s. “Put these in his closet for me.”

“Sure.” I climb the stairs behind her, turninginto Varen’s bedroom as she continues to hers.

A sexy sensation flows through me as I stare athis large bed, recalling how wild it was between us that night when it rained.

Stepping into his closet, I hang his pantsuit andanother shirt and pants. I’m about to leave when I glimpse a tiny box sittingon the chest beneath his shirts on the right side of the closet. It’s slightlyopened.

A part of me wants to give him his privacy, butanother side is curious.

I mosey to the box and open it fully.Disappointment sprouts in me when I see the plastic bag of pills. They’re fewerthan what he’d received at that last party. He’s taken some.

“Damn it, Varen,” I mutter to myself, upset withhim. Clearly, he’s lying about doing better. Is this what he’s been trying totell me?

Closing the box, I push it deeper behind theshirts and walk out of his bedroom.

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