“Does it make you sad to know that Luke lost his virginity to her?” Anna questioned me softly and I burst out laughing.
“Hell no. I’m just glad that it finally happened.”
“Really?”
“Yes. A twenty-two year old male virgin is not cute.”
“But we’re still virgins.”
I sighed as we pulled into my driveway and turned to her. “But we’re girls and we’re both saving it for someone special.”
“Do you think they will ever come along?”
“I think they already have,” I grinned.
“Really?”
“Yup. Luke and Bryce.” I wiggled my eyebrows. “I think they will make the perfect lovers for both of us.
“We wish,” Anna giggled.
“They wish.” I danced as we got out of the car. “At least I hope so.”
“You hope what?” Luke and Bongo came running out of his house and into my yard.
“Nothing, nosey.” I punched him on the arm.
“Why hello to you, too.” He grinned at me and rubbed his arm. “Hey, Anna.”
“Hey, Luke.” She grinned at him and flung her hair over her shoulder.
“So Lexi roped you into going to this party as well?”
“It should be fun.”
“For whom?” He threw a ball for Bongo to catch. “I feel like we are in a time warp and going back to high school.”
“We were never invited to the party of the year in high school,” I reminded him.
“And I don’t know if I want to be invited now.”
“At least we’ll all be there.” Anna walked up to him and rubbed his shoulder and he looked down at her and smiled.
“That’s the only positive,” he grinned. “I suppose you and I will have to keep each other company, while Lexi goes after Bryce.”
“That won’t be a problem,” Anna grinned and I could see the happiness reflected in the sparkle of her eyes.
“Can we please go camping this weekend as well, to make up for the party?”
“When?” I frowned.
“Sat and Sun?” Luke walked over to me and took a piece of a dead leaf out of my hair and stared into my eyes. “The party is Friday, right?”
“Yes,” I sighed. “I suppose so.”
“Good.” He pulled something else out of my hair. “Where have you been and why do you have so many dead leaves in your hair?”
“No idea.” I stared at his tee shirt for a second and laughed. “Pinky and the Brain? Aren’t you too old to be wearing a tee-shirt with cartoon characters?”
“You’re never too old,” he laughed. “Never.”
“Are you guys coming?” Anna frowned at us as she walked to my front door.
“Yes, sorry.” I pulled away from Luke, feeling self-conscious.
“Your mom’s home,” Luke whispered to me and I groaned.
“Great,” I sighed. I wasn’t looking forward to seeing my mom. “Don’t mention the party in front of my mom, okay?”
“Sure.” Luke looked at me in surprise as we walked through the front door. “Is there a reason why?”
“Yes.” I shook my head. “But I can’t talk about it.”
“Okay.”
“Lexi, there you are. I haven’t seen you in ages.”
“Hi, Mom.” I tried not to roll my eyes as I walked into the living room. “How was work?”
“Good, I got a $40 tip today,” she grinned and pulled out the two $20 notes.
“Nice,” I smiled, genuinely happy. My mom was happier on days she got good tips.
“I thought I might go to the mall tomorrow.”
“Maybe you can go with Lexi and I?” Anna through in. I tried to make eye contact with her to stop her from talking, but she wasn’t looking in my direction.
“You girls are going to the mall?”
“Yeah, to get some new clothes and our hair done for the party on Friday.”
“Party?” My mom looked at her, curiously. “What party?”
“The mayor’s holding a party for his son, Bryce, who is back from war.”
“Mayor Evans?” My mom frowned and turned towards me. “You’re going to a party at the mayor’s house, Lexi?”
“Well, yes.” My voice was tight and low.
“How could you?” She looked at me in shock. “You can’t go, I tell you.”
“She is over eighteen now, Mrs. Lord,” Anna laughed, not sensing the tension in the air.
“You can’t go, Lexi. How could you?” My mom ran out of the room and out the front door. We heard her car screech as she pulled out of the driveway and we all stood there in silence.
“Uhm ... is she okay?” Anna looked at me, confused.
“Yeah, she’ll be fine,” I sighed.
“Anna, why did you have to go and open your big mouth about the party?” Luke frowned at her. “I swear you can’t read any situation.”
“How was I to know that her mom was going to freak out?” Anna’s voice sounded hurt.
“You should have looked at Lexi, it was obvious she didn’t want us to say anything.”
“Sorry, I can’t read her mind like you can, Luke.” Anna made a face.
“Guys, it’s okay.” I rubbed my temple. “Maybe you both should go.”
“I can stay, Lexi.” Luke sidled up to me and wrapped his arms around me. He, more than anyone, knew just how tempestuous my relationship with my mother was.
“No,” I sighed, “It’s okay. I just need to be alone.” I looked at them both and felt tears coming to my eyes. “I need to go to the bathroom. You can let yourselves out.”
I ran upstairs and into my room, falling onto my bed in tears after I locked the door. Just when I thought that something was finally going to go right in my life, it all came crashing down. Just like it always did. I closed my eyes trying to ignore the voices in my head that told me I wasn’t good enough. That I wasn’t entitled to a happy life. I wanted to thump my hands against my walls in frustration.
I wasn’t even sure I should go to the party. I mean, nothing could come of a relationship with Bryce, even if he was interested in me. My mother wouldn’t be able to handle it. Not after everything. And I didn’t know if I wanted to be the one to hold such deep, dark secrets from him. I didn’t know if I could do it.