Page 4 of The Second Kiss
“That’s one of the things I was going to ask you. The other thing I’d like to know is, who have you been texting?” Mom holds my phone out for me so I can read the texts.
After the text from Brad there’s a long and graphic thread supposedly between me and some guy whose signature is “git it on.”
“It wasn’t... I didn’t,” my face flames, “someone stole my phone.”
“I didn’t think you’d sent the texts, but,” she crosses her arms and taps her fingers, a sure sign I’m in trouble. “I want you to understand that letting your phone out of your sight is not okay. We talked about this. No one else is allowed to use your phone. Period.”
“I didn’t let someone else use it, I dropped it between classes and—” That was a mistake, cell phones at school are a big pet peeve of Mom’s.
“Why did you have it out between classes? You’re not supposed to have it out at school at all. You know that. So,” she holds her hand out for my phone, “no phone privileges for a week.”
“What? Mom!” I can’t believe how unfair this is. What part ofsomeone stole my phonedoes she not understand?
“And I will be monitoring your texts. If “git it on” texts you again, you can bet I’ll answer.”
I hand over my phone. I still think it’s unfair, but if I try to argue now my chances of going to the game and the party afterward will be zero.
She takes my phone and puts it up in the cupboard above the refrigerator where she used to put things she didn’t want me to get into when I was little. I’ve got two inches on her, so I can reach that cupboard better than she can now, but I don’t think stealing my phone back would be a good idea. I just wish I had the chance to warn my friends, especially Brad, that my mom has my phone.
“Since this is just about the phone, I won’t ground you from the game tonight,” she says.
I breathe a sigh of relief. Then I take my chances, “What about the party afterward?” I want to make it sound like its something I brought up before, not something I’m springing on her at the last minute.
It doesn’t work. “What party?”
“Oh, not really a party, just some kids getting together after the game,” I’m trying to stay casual, rubbing the leather sleeve of Brad’s letterman’s jacket.
“At whose house?”
Brad didn’t give me any details. I think for a second. I don’t want to lie to Mom, but I’m stuck, “Ryder Hill.” I don’t know if she’ll even recognize the name. Ryder played football with my older brother Matt. Ryder is my age and has a reputation for being a good kid.
“Will his parents be there?” She asks.
“I’m pretty sure they will,” I’m trying not to squirm.
“Who else is going?”
“Taryn and Jaz and—”
“Brad?” She reaches over and fingers his name on the letterman’s jacket.
“Yeah, Brad will be there.”
“And is he bringing you home?”
“Yes,” I wonder where the grilling will go now that Brad has come up. My having a boyfriend is unfamiliar territory for both of us.
She sighs. “We need to meet him.”
“You have met him.”
“At the door when he brings you home from school doesn’t count. You should bring him over for dinner on Sunday. I promise I won’t let Dad bring out his gun collection. At least not the first time he comes over." She smiles at her stupid joke. Not funny. Especially since my dad does, in fact, have a gun collection. “But,” she fingers Brad’s jacket again. “If you’re going to wear his jacket, I expect a formal meeting. Okay? And I’ll let you go to the party tonight, but only because you’ve never given us any reason not to trust you, and I don’t expect you to start now. But you will be home by midnight. And no drinking.”
“Okay.” I’m relieved that she kept the grilling about the party and about Brad to a minimum. I guess all my years of having no social life were worth something. “Can you take me to the game? Jaz and Taryn have to be there early and The Nag keeps dying again.”
“I can take you, but you need to schedule an appointment with Dad’s mechanic to get that car looked at. Dad told me he was tired of it cluttering up the driveway.”
“Sure Mom,” I say, hoping she’ll forget about it. The Nag is my car, an old white Mustang that looks very cool, but only runs intermittently. I bought it from one of Matt’s friends without my dad’s blessing, so keeping it running is my responsibility. I can’t tell Mom that I spent so much money on school clothes and getting my hair done that I can’t afford to have The Nag looked at, much less repaired.
