Page 64 of Happenstance
I stared at the glass door marked office and wondered if I could claim to have a junk food addiction?‘Oh no, this isn’t a baby, I just ate one too many bags of potato chips.’ How good would potato chips be right now? Oo and French onion dip.
Focus Lana!
These cravings were going to kill me. Last night, I ate a jar of pickles, with yogurt. Parker’s lip curled as he watched me dip each one in the yogurt. At one point, I thought he might have me committed. Hell, I wanted to have myself committed. Combining those two foods was not a normal thing to do, yet it tasted so good. And did Parker call the men in white to come put me in a straight jacket? No. He took the jar, carefully dipped each one in the creamy concoction, and fed me.
The past few weeks had been beyond anything I’d expected. I’d had my fantasies about Parker Whitley and the perfect relationship we could have, but the reality was so much better. If my feet hurt, he massaged them. When I wanted something specific to eat, he went out and got it for me, and if I yawned, he’d cuddle close and lull me to sleep. The thing that tugged at my heart most, was the joy on his face. Parker didn’t do these things because he felt like he had to. He did it because he wanted to. The man loved taking care of me. And I loved letting him do it.
Well, most times I did. One thing I’d learned about Parker Whitley was how overbearing he could be. If he thought it should be done, there was no arguing with him. He was more stubborn than Nan. Like the Lamaze class. I was only seventeen weeks. There was plenty of time to take it, but no. Parker had to have the information now. And that was my problem.
I’d become too comfortable. Thinking Parker would take care of everything, so that I wasn’t paying attention to other things. Like Ashworth’s hoity toity staff. Having a pregnant girl walk the halls wasn’t exactly great for their reputation. I glanced up at the school’s motto written across the door,‘Welcome to Ashworth, the place where future leaders are born,’and blew out a huff of air before pushing the door open.
Mrs. Grier’s steely glare rolled over her square framed glasses as I entered the office. “Miss Crawford, please have a seat. We’re still waiting on your grandmother.”
I nodded and thickly swallowed. They’d called Nan? Well, this wasn’t going to go well. Nan was probably gathering the troops, getting ready to picket outside the school. Parker’s brother was a scary guy, but a bunch of angry old ladies… now, that was truly terrifying. I wouldn’t be surprised if Nan’s church group charged into Hell to take on the devil himself.
Speaking of terrifying…
My nose crinkled at the smirk on Mason’s face. “Do you ever go to class?”
“Class is overrated.” He patted the black chair next to him, which made me roll my eyes, and said, “Come join me in the row of rejects.”
If there was any other option to sit, I’d have taken it. Heck, I’d have sat on the floor if it wasn’t for Mrs. Grier. I didn’t feel like getting in a debate with Ashworth’s receptionist. I didn’t even like her looking at me. That woman wasn’t just a stickler for the rules, she had some freaky misbehaving radar. The one time I’d considered cheating on a test, she’d cornered me in the hall and asked if I was prepared for my exam. Like she knew what I was thinking. Maybe Riley was right, and Mrs. Grier was a demon? I could picture her pitching something like the DMV and getting props from the devil for the idea.
Reluctantly, I carefully took the seat next to the youngest Kessler, who immediately threw his arm over my shoulders.
“So, what’s Miss Goody Two-shoes doing in the bad girl’s chair?”
Bad girl’s chair, really?
I shrugged his arm off me and crossed mine. “I don’t think we’re supposed to talk to each other.”
“You hear that, Edith?” Mason’s lips rounded as he tsked in disapproval, “Lana here wants to follow the rules.”
Mrs. Grier sighed and looked over at him. “As should you, Mr. Kessler.”
A big grin spread across his face as he leaned in closer and whispered, “She wants me.”
“Don’t talk to me,” I growled back.
Harper told me what he did to her yesterday. I was going to have a chat with Parker about that. He should’ve done something sooner. Then again, was it right of me to ask him to go against his friend for mine? Wasn’t that the same as making him pick sides? I hated people who did that.I don’t like him, so you can’t.Everyone should be allowed to have their own friends, and he did stop Mason when things got out of hand. I grumbled out a groan and slumped back. Since when did everything get so confusing?
My eyes slid over to Mason, sitting all proud like a peacock in his chair of punishment. Perhaps if I made an effort with Parker’s friends, he would make one with mine?
“So, um… what’d you think of the game last night?” I had no idea what I was talking about, but there was always some kind of game on T.V.
Mason cocked a brow at me. “Which one?”
Crap.
“You, the uh… that one that was one.”
Real smooth, Lana.
“Lana banana,” his lips twisted in a smirk, “Are you attempting small talk?”
“Pfft, no.”
He stifled a small snicker and nodded. “That’s good, because you suck at it.”
