Chapter Eight
Adley
I woke up to the sound of Mom’s voice bouncing down the basement stairs.
“Adley!You awake yet?”
“Yes,” I called back, and scrubbed a hand down my face.
Mom hollered again, “I’m going to head to the clubhouse.Want to come with me?”
That made me pause.“Why are you going to the clubhouse?”I shouted back.I swung my legs out of bed, and spotted a pile of clean clothes on the ottoman.I tugged my jeans up and worked the button closed.My hair was a mess, my eyes still heavy, but at least I was vertical.
I was reaching for socks when she laughed like I should’ve already known.“All the girls are meeting there to plan Eden’s graduation party!”
I shoved my feet into my tennis shoes and clomped up the stairs.“Eden graduated back in May, Mom.”
Mom just grinned at me from the kitchen with her purse already slung over her shoulder.“I know, but Alice didn’t do her party then because everyone else in town was doing theirs, and Eden wanted to go to those instead of her own.”
I pulled the fridge open and leaned into the cool air, scanning shelves.“And now?”
“And now,” Mom continued, “we need something exciting for the cameras to capture.Eden’s graduation seems to be the safest thing.”
I laughed and straightened with a carton of apple juice in my hand.“As if it’s going to take you guys more than half an hour to figure out the party.”
She shrugged, eyes twinkling.“We can drag it out.Carnie can go crazy with the menu, and Alice can go nuts with the decorations.The rest of us will just make it all come to life.”
I grabbed an apple, polished it against my shirt, and took a big bite.“Do I need to come?I really just wanted to be a zombie all day and do nothing.”
“Working at the Social Club a little more than you expected?”she asked, one eyebrow cocked.
I chewed, swallowed, then shrugged.“I mean, it’s more physical than what I did back in Chicago, but it’s not anything I can’t handle.”
“You just need twenty-four hours to recuperate?”she teased.
I nodded solemnly.“Yes, that would be ideal.”
She jingled her keys like a bribe.“Well, how about you come with me to the clubhouse to plan this party, and then we can get pizza and ice cream on the way home that we can eat while we watch some trash reality show tonight?You’re back home, but I still don’t see you much.”
I bit into my apple again and narrowed my eyes at her.“Where are we getting ice cream from?”
“Dairy Bar.”
I pointed at her with the apple.“I’m in.Let’s go get this party planning over with.”
Mom clapped her hands like a kid.“Yes!”
We headed out to her car, and climbed in.The ride to the clubhouse was filled with her humming along to the radio while I watched Weston roll by.My hometown looked smaller after fourteen years away, but in some ways it felt bigger too, like the pieces I’d left behind had grown roots without me.
When we pulled into the clubhouse lot, cars already lined both sides along with a ton of motorcycles.My stomach tightened.
“All the ol’ ladies are here,” Mom said cheerfully.“Calla, Eden, Bell, and Clove too.”
I frowned.“Are they recording this?”
Mom wrinkled her nose, guilty.“Uh, well, yes.”
I groaned and tipped my head back against the seat.If I’d known cameras would be shoved in my face, I would not have let her bait me with Dairy Bar.“Deep down I love you, but right now I hate you.”
