Page 62 of Isabella and the Slipper

“What?”

“You’re cute when you’re embarrassed.” She whacked him playfully on the arm. “What’s her name?”

“Isabella.”

Whoa, had he just said that out loud?

“Is she the girl who you’ve been studying with?”

He scooped a spoonful of cereal and stuffed it into his mouth. “Mmm hmm.”

“Maybe you should have her over for dinner.”

He nodded and swallowed. “Okay. I’ll ask her.”

She smiled. “I’ll have a talk with your father about all this.”

“Okay.” Chase took another bite. His father didn’t care about his acting as much as he cared about him not disrespecting his mother. But the conversation had gone smoother than he’d thought. His mom seemed to be taking it well.

She squeezed his shoulder. “Love you, honey.”

“Love you too, Mom.”

His mother went into the bathroom to fix her hair. He finished his cereal and hopped into the shower. In thirty minutes, he was out the door feeling better than he had in a long time. His mother was going to back off the auditions. He’d get to spend his senior year doing the things every other senior did. He did a little fist pump before getting in his car. He was free.

The school day seemed to speed by, and soon he was standing in line in the busy lunchroom. He glanced around and saw Isabella sitting alone at the end of a table.

What would she do if he sat by her?

He picked up a sub sandwich and a carton of milk and punched in his account number. Gripping his tray, he turned.

Yep, he was going to do it.

He started toward the table when another girl sat next to Isabella, taking the empty seat.

Chase frowned, grumbling under his breath and walking past them to the table where he usually sat. He wasn’t sure who that girl was, but he didn’t like her much at the moment. Setting his tray down, he took a seat.

“Hey, Chase,” one of the girls at the table said.

“Hey.” He pulled out his phone and messaged Five.

Are you having a good day?

He watched Isabella take her phone out of her pocket, look at the screen, then glance his way. He lowered his gaze so she didn’t catch him staring at her.

Yes. Even though it’s Monday.

Something big happened this morning.

What??

I told my mom I didn’t want to audition anymore.

You did? Holy schmoly, what did she say?

He chuckled and felt her gaze on him once more, so he kept his eyes on his phone.

She was shocked at first. But then she was all right with it.

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