Page 118 of Flipping His Script
Chapter 44
Anna – Ten Years Earlier
"Honey," my mom said. "Just be honest. That's all we ask, all right?"
I was slumped in a living room chair, facing my mom and Gordon, who were sitting side-by-side on the sofa opposite me. I gave my mom a pleading look. "Iambeing honest."
"No," she said with a stiff smile. "You're not." She gave Gordon a sideways glance. "We know the truth, remember?"
Oneof them knew the truth. Of this, I was absolutely certain. And itwasn'tmy mom.
I looked to Gordon and said, "Youknowthe manager's lying, right?"
Gordon was short and plump with a thick toupee and beady eyes. Of course he knew the manager was lying. Gordonownedthat gas station. Knowing Gordon, he'd probably put the guy up to it.
I tried to think.But how?
By threatening his job?
Or through old-fashioned bribery?
Gordon gave me an oily smile. "Why would he lie?"
I met his gaze head-on. "Maybe someonemadehim lie."
This time, it was my mom who replied, "Oh Anna, don't be ridiculous."
It was just after dinnertime on the same day that John Archer had been dragged away from school. For dinner, we'd had poached salmon with asparagus. Now I couldn’t help but wonder what John was getting in jail.
Bread and water?
Or nothing at all?
Or maybe he wasn't in jail-jail. Maybe he was in a juvenile detention facility.Was that better? Or worse?I'd tried to find out, but no one was telling me squat.
Abruptly, Gordon said, "Are you screwing him?"
I almost gasped. "What?"
"Sex," he said. "Isthatwhy you're trying to get him off? Because you two are doing it?"
It?
With John Archer.
Good Lord.
I looked to my mom, praying that she'd jump in and put a stop this. But as usual, my prayers went unanswered. Suddenly, she was more interested in her new manicure than anything going on with me.
Apparently, I was on my own.
As usual.
I looked to Gordon and said, "We're not doing anything." In truth, I was still a virgin and wasn't looking to change that any time soon.
His eyes narrowed. "Then why are you lying for him?"
"I'mnotlying." I gave my mom another pleading look, not that it did any good. She was still studying her nails like they were the most interesting thing on the planet.
