Page 53 of Strike & Score
“I’m joining you,” he growls against my ear, but I shake my head.
“No, you’re not.”
“Mayson, come here.” My mom’s tone is more irritated, and Colin tenses even more.
I break away from his hold, turning to face her and don’t miss the grimace she lets out at my appearance. My hair is in a messy ponytail, sweat slicked and I know I have dirt on my clothes from our impromptu game.
Without letting it affect me, I climb down the stairs while I feel Colin’s anger radiating off him. I know he wants to be involved in everything that has to do with me. But unless he’s about to tell my mom what we’ve been up to then he’s going to have to back off. Though, I wouldn’t put it past him to blurt it all out right here without a thought.
I’m surprised he doesn’t say anything else. In fact, I hear him walk toward his room as I reach my mom at the bottom of the stairs.
“What were you two doing?” she sneers.
“Playing soccer.” I fold my arms across my chest.
She looks up to where Colin just disappeared from, and nods in the other direction to the kitchen. “We need to talk.”
When I go to sit on one of the stools at the counter she stops me. “You are not getting the chairs all dirty.”
I roll my eyes. “The maids Walter pays good money for can clean them because we both know it wouldn’t be you.”
She gasps, “What happened to you? Where did my sweet girl go?”
I furrow my brows at her. “What’re you talking about?” I don’t think I’ve ever described myself as sweet, and neither has she.
“Is this because of Colin? He’s rubbing off on you, isn’t he?”
I suck my bottom lip between my teeth to prevent myself from saying how he’s definitely rubbingsomethingon me.
“Honestly Mayson, this was supposed to be a fresh start for us, but all you’ve done is fight me at every turn.Then, you disappear with Colin coming back looking like you were mud wrestling.”
I look down at myself, seeing dirt smudges, but I think she’s being pretty dramatic comparing it to mud wrestling.
“We played some soccer, mom. I was bored out of my mind here with your friend.”
“Well, it was rude. And you’re going out with Garrett.”
I curl my lip in disgust. “I really don’t want to.”
“Too bad. It’s already happening. Saturday before you head back to school.”
“I’ll leave before then.”
“Honestly, Mayson, why must you fight me on everything?”
“Because I don’t want to go out with him, and you’re trying to force me.”
“Are you seeing someone else? Is that it?”
I open my mouth, then close it because I don’t have a good response to that.
“That’s what I thought.” She nods before I can even say anything. “I expect to see youcleanin the morning.”
She dismisses me. I grumble, walking away knowing the conversation can’t lead anywhere good if I continue to fight with her. Instead, I head upstairs quickly toward my old room, but I’m pulled through a different door, and yelp as it’s closed behind me.
Colin crowds me against the wood. “What did she say?”
I scoff. “Like you weren’t listening.”
