Maybe now I won’t have to sneak out to see Kai. We can see each other without the worry of getting caught.
“I was young once. I know what it’s like wanting to spend every minute with the guy you like.” She reaches into her back pocket and hands me my phone. “You can have this back. But you better not sneak out again.”
I’m at a loss for words. Not because I’m getting my phone back, but because she thinks I’ve been doing good. My stomach sinks as I think about how I’ve been deceiving her.
Her brows crease as I reach for the phone. “You don’t seem happy about getting your phone back. I thought you’d be jumping for joy.”
I release my bottom lip from my teeth before she realizes. She knows I do that when I’m nervous. “I guess I’m in shock. I wasn’t expecting that.”
“You’ve been coming home every day after school like I asked and helping with Brynlee. So I think it’s time to unground you.”
Her words are making me dizzy as I hold my breath in, not knowing what to say. “Thanks,” is all I can manage.
I should be a better daughter.
The first thing I do once I get home is text Kai.
Me: Hey, handsome…
And then I text Paige.They’re going to be so excited I finally have a way to communicate with them again.
Me: Guess who got their phone back?
I’m lying on my bed, waiting for Paige and Kai to text back. After Brynlee finished trick-or-treating, I came straight to my room. My mom probably knows it’s so I can talk to my friends. That is one reason, but also, I don’t want her to see how nervous I am about sneaking out tonight. I had already made the plans before our talk, and now, after my mom was so nice to me, I feel this tug between doing the right thing and continuing on with my plan.
Paige: Ahh U got ur phone back.
Kai: Hey beautiful.
Paige: R u still coming out 2nite?
A couple of hours later,I listen to the silence of the house before I begin my trek from my room to the tree that sits outside the front of the house—the tree that hides me from my shame. I know what I’m doing is wrong, but I can’t seem to stop myself from doing it anyways.
My body trembles as I make my way outside. Guilt hits me, knowing that I should have stayed in. Especially after the talk my mom and I had.
This is the last time.
An icy chill wraps around my body. As soon as I see him coming down the street with his headlights off the growing pit in my stomach increases with worry.
“You’re quiet tonight. Is everything okay?” Kai asks.
I didn’t say anything once I got in the car. My mind was racing with so much guilt.
“I’m okay,” I say with a slight smile.
“Are you sure? You don’t look so good.”
The tightening in my chest is making it hard to breathe and causing me to fight through each breath I take. I shouldn’t have left. I could go back. Would that ruin Kai’s night?
Kai places a hand on my leg, startling me with his touch. “What’s wrong? You can talk to me.”
I don’t want to say anything to him and make me feel like I’m immature. Once I get there, I should feel better.
“Everything is fine.” I smile, hoping it’s enough to convince him.
We walk through the front door of a white-brick house with a huge deck on top of the garage. There are a ton of people hanging out on the deck. No music is playing outside, though. Maybe they’re being cautious with noise so the cops don’t come. I’m not sure whose house this is. The parents are always out of town, so whoever lives here is having a party. “Hypnotize” by Notorious B.I.G. is blaring through the speakers. There are stairs that go upstairs or downstairs as soon as you walk in. We squeeze past everyone as we make our way upstairs and into the kitchen. My tension settles a little, knowing this is a house. Maybe it won’t be as bad as the apartments.
“Ahhh!” Paige yells and pulls me into her arms.
