Her face lights up. “Really? That sounds lovely. Tell him we’d love to come.”
I smile faintly. “Okay. And there’s a dance at school on Saturday. Zayne’s taking me, and my friends want to go dress shopping in a few.”
“Dress shopping?” She straightens her spine. “You should let me take you. This is your first school dance, Bardot. This is a big deal.”
“Oh.” I shift my weight from one foot to the other. “But my friends want to take me. I think they’re finally ready to start talking to me again.”
She frowns and places her arm on my shoulder, and together we walk to the kitchen. “Honey, those friends of yours sound manipulative. I don’t like it.”
“What?” My stomach churns with a sense of disappointment I wasn’t expecting. My mom’s reaction seems off kilter. I thought she would be happy the twins are ready to be friends with me again. “They’re not manipulative. It was just a misunderstanding.”
“I’lltake you dress shopping. That’s the end of it, okay?”
Her tone and words stun me into silence. Lips parted, I stare at her. Study her. I have no idea what to say. She’s never acted like this with me before. Controlling. Unreasonable. I don’t recognize her at all.
Mom ushers me toward the front door. “I’ll meet you in the car. I just need to grab my purse.”
My brows draw together in confusion. “We’re going right now? I just got home. I’m not ready. I need to change first.” There’s no way I’d be caught dead at the mall still wearing my school uniform.
“If we leave now, we’ll beat traffic.” She all but shoves me out the front door, grabbing my cardigan for me off the coat rack in the entryway. My heart hammers in my chest as the realization sinks in.She’s lying. She is having a hard time.
Still on the doorstep, I take out my phone and text Beau. Part of me wants to hide her behavior from him, if only so he won’t be able to say,I told you so.
But there are more important things than being proved wrong, and this is one of them.
Me
Where are you?
Beau
Just left detention. Texted in class. Please don’t tell Mom or Dad.
Detention?Seriously?
Me
Won’t the school tell them anyway?
Beau
I gave the school your number so you’ll probably be getting a call at some point. What do you need?
I resist the urge to roll my eyes, trying to focus on the matter at hand. I hesitate, staring at the screen before typing the message.
Me
Mom is acting strange. What should I do?
Beau
Just play it cool till I can get ahold of Dad or Aunt Lucille I guess.
Me
Wait, don’t tell Dad. He seems so happy that she’s back. I don’t want to worry him in case it’s nothing.
Beau
