“It’s fine, honey,go.”
“Okay,” I whine, flicking my nails. “I’m sorry for—”
“Kennedy, don’t be sorry,” she says, a hint of amusement in her tone. “And whoever this boy is, I hope he’s worthy of you.”
I frown. “Did I say—”
Mom spills a gentle laugh. “Go and have fun, Kenny. I’ll be here waiting for you, I promise.” She pauses. “I love you, honey. Be safe, okay?”
A comforting sensation fills my body. “I love you too, mom,” I say then hang up before shouting at the top of my lungs, “Maxine! I need you!”
Max bolts out of the den, a slice of pizza hanging from her mouth. “So? How’d that go?”
“I’ll tell you later,” I say, galloping down the stairs. “You didn’t happen to text Ollie and tell him I’d be late, did you?”
Max blinks. “Was I supposed to?”
“Yes! Max!” I groan. “Now he’s gonna think I bailed. Can you call me another Uber? Please? I’m going to try and call him.”
“Okay, okay,” Maxine grumbles, pulling up the app. “Are you sure you still want to go? You can always just text him and say something came up?” She looks up at me as I dial Oliver’s number. The line rings. And rings. And rings. “Are you sure you’re in the mood for this, Ken?”
“He’s not answering,” I complain. “Damn it. It’s fine, I’ll text him.”
Kenny: OMG! I’m so sorry I’m late! But you won’t believe who called me. I’ll tell you about it in person. SO SORRY! Be there ASAP! Plz don’t hate me <3
“Uber will be here in ten mins,” Maxine says. “I’ll wait outside with you.” We exit her house and walk toward the gates. “Areyou feeling okay? You know, after talking to your mom? How is she?Whereis she?”
“In New Haven actually.”
“New Haven? What?”
“Yeah, she wants to see me.”
“Are you gonna go?”
“I think so,” I sigh, shaking my head. “I know I should be mad at her, but anger is not the emotion I feel right now.” I glance at Max who’s confused. “It’s like...Iwantto be mad, Ishouldbe mad, but I’m not.”
“You’renotmad?” Max asks. “But she left you, Ken.”
“I know but—For some reason, I’m not mad. I’m really not.” I smile, staring off into the distance, hoping to see the Uber. “I feel... I feel happy.”
“Happy?”
“Yeah,” I say, tapping my foot impatiently. “It’s like everything is finally coming together.”
For once.
twenty-nine
Broken and Bent
OLIVER
Iwastenyearsold when I first experienced disappointment. I can remember it so vividly as if it happened yesterday. The shrieking of children, the hushing of parents, the screeching of the AV systems as the headteacher brought the shoddy microphone to her lips.
“Parents, relatives, and friends,” she said, “It is my honor to welcome you all to St Peter Primary School’s annual Christmas concert.” The audience clapped. “We have so many bright children here ready to wow you with their talents. First up, we have the musical stylings of Day and Knight.” The headteacher chuckled. “Please give a loud round of applause for Nigel Dayton and Oliver Knight!”
The excitement I felt for the performance vanished in an instant. The momenttheirseats were empty. The second I saw the reserved signs in the front row. Excitement was no longer what vibrated my heart, no, it was disappointment.
