Page 112 of Captivated By Danger

“It’s not mandatory or anything like that. It’s like a social or something, where I can mingle with classmates and stuff like that. You could be my plus one, if you want.”

“No.”

“Okay. See you later.”

I darted away from the door so fast, so he wouldn’t embarrass me any more than I’d embarrassed myself by trying to have a conversation with him in front of other people.

That Evening…

“Bitch, you look so fucking delicious, Grey,” Elle complimented me. “I can’t wait to see that dress on you.”

“Oh my goodness. Thank you.”

I was sitting at my vanity putting the finishing touches on my make-up. The event started in ten minutes, and I was going to be fashionably late. I’d sat around waiting for Diesel to come back, telling me he’d changed his mind and would accompany me, but he didn’t. As I was coming from the gym, they all were leaving. Everyone acknowledged me except him. I guess he was back to acting funny.

“You look so much brighter. Happier.”

“Really?”

“Yes, girl. I guess it’s because I’ve seen you when you had some real dark days. So, between today, and three months ago, you look light years better.”

I paused because that sounded like a compliment and a drag at the same time, making me laugh. I guess I couldn’t tell because Diesel changed like the New York weather. If I wanted to be around someone that switched like that, I could have stayed around my kids.

“Is he going with you?”

“Girl, no. He back to acting funny. He made me squirt and he the one acting funny. I can’t stand his ass.”

“You can’t stand him, but he got you doing shit you ain’t ever done, like fantasizing about being someone’s mistress, which is crazy because the way you demonized me that one time. I ain’t forgot hoe.”

I laughed so hard. “Because that lady was going to kill us both and you were still playing around with that lady man.”

She laughed while shaking her head, but she knew it was true. My mom’s name popped up on the screen.

“Shit. My mom’s calling. Let me call you back.”

“Dang, when the last time you talked to her?”

“She’s been talking to me through my dad, or he’s been lying saying she’s been asking about me. Who knows at this point?”

“Okay. Send me pictures. Love you.”

When she hung up, her picture covered the screen. My mother was a pretty woman, but she had no business being anyone’s mom until she healed from the stuff her mom put her through. I still loved her for who she was now, not for who I knew she could be.

“Hi, Mom.”

I put the phone on speaker to put my setting spray on.

“Grey, hey.”

It sounded like she was out of breath.

“Mom, is everything okay? You sound like you’re running up a hill and I know you’re not doing that.”

“Grey, they had to send Kyle to the crazy house. He boarded up the house with him and Perris inside it saying that man that you with don’ threatened him. He said that the man got somebody watching him.”

I burst out laughing. “Mom. You’re joking.”

“Do it sound like I’m joking? You are in the company of a dangerous man. Greysen, you need to come home, now!”

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