His brother swallows his latest bite of coleslaw and says, “As long as it’s not made with daffodils. I’m allergic.”
I laugh. “He’s kidding, Len. At least, he better be.” I lean closer to Zayne. “Because I’m really looking forward to going with you.”
A dimpled grin flashes across his lips before he closes the distance between us with a kiss. I shift my body on the bench to face him, hitching my knee up and over the seat so I can wrap my arms around his neck. He parts my lips, and I melt a little.Kissing Zayne feels like the sun hitting my skin for the first time after a rainy day. I tighten my arms around him. His hands travel from my waist up my back before landing on my knee.
Lenny’s voice cuts through my senses. “Does kissing with food in your mouth make it taste any better?”
Zayne breaks apart from our embrace to glare across the table at him. “You really know how to kill a moment, man.”
I laugh. “Your kisses always taste like coffee and fresh cake.” And then I blush, because the words kind of just slipped out.
But he chuckles. “That would be Mimi. She always gives us leftover restaurant sweets for breakfast.”
“Did you invite her to Thanksgiving yet?” Lenny asks Zayne.
“Believe it or not, I was getting there.”
Lenny pauses and taps his chin. “I believe it.”
Zayne turns back to me. “My mom and Mimi are cooking up a storm for Thanksgiving and they would love for you and your family to come.” He half smiles. “There will be coffee and fresh cake. You won’t even have to kiss me to get a taste of it.”
I play with his hand, still resting on my leg. “And what if I want to?”
“I’m not going to stop you.”
“I’d love for us to come, but let me double check with my parents,” I say.My parents.It’s the first time in so long I’ve been able to ask for their permission as a unit, instead of just Dad’s.
His half-smile transforms into a full-force grin. My heart thuds a little unsteadily in response.
When we’re finished with our lunches, we spend the rest of the break running our lines back and forth, right there at the lunch table. At first it’s embarrassing. I don’t like the way random pairs of eyes from around the cafeteria seem to watch us, but Zayne makes a good point, stating, “If you can’t do it in a noisy cafeteria, it will be even harder once you get onstage and everyone’s paying attention.”
Lenny chimes in occasionally, disrupting my train of thought, but by the time the bell rings, I feel a sense of accomplishment. Zayne is such a good teacher, it will be impossible to mess up my lines during the play. But even more than that, I feel a sense of freedom. It’s crazy how pretending to be someone else can make me feel more myself than ever.
My remaining classes pass in a blur, and dress rehearsal goes smoothly. I ignore Carlton and he ignores me. It’s like a civil, mutual understanding between us after our talk. Mr. Saltzman actually claps after one of my scenes with Meredith, and she—dare I say it—cracks a smile at me.
Zayne walks me to my car after rehearsal, and Mabel and Rue walk along with us. “I’m just going to go home and change first,” I tell the girls, “and then I’ll text you when I’m on my way to the dress place.”
“Sounds good.” Mabel beams.
After she and Rue leave, Zayne tugs me against him by the hand. “What color dress are you going to pick?”
“I have no idea. Probably yellow, since it’s my favorite color.”
“I can’t wait to see it.” He smiles and kisses the end of my nose.
I jerk the lock open in the front door when I get home. I half expect the smell of Mom’s cooking to float through the entryway when I step inside, but I’m met with nothing but silence and an empty hallway. “Mom?” I walk through the tidy kitchen to the living room, where she’s on her hands and knees. My heart thuds at the sight. “Mom, are you alright?”
She straightens when she hears my voice, standing up like the floor just burned her. “Hey, baby,” she says. The wordstumble out in a hoarse rush, but she smiles and meets my gaze without effort. “How was school?”
“Fine.” I chew my lip as a sinking, unwanted suspicion strikes me. “What were you doing on the ground? You’re not…having a hard time, are you?”
Her eyes widen. “No! Of course not, sweetie. I was just looking for my earring. Darn backing came loose. It must have fallen off somewhere around here.”
I nod, wanting to believe her. Wanting so badly, but unable to shake my fears away. “Maybe you should get some rest.”
“Dot, honey, I’m fine.” Her smile wears thin.
“Okay.” My brain scrambles for a change of subject. “Guess what? Zayne’s family invited us over for Thanksgiving. I told him I’d ask you first.”
