“I just said it was normal, didn’t I?” She rose. “Daddy’s with someone tonight,” she added, “so don’t rush out there.”
“Oh.”
“I don’t understand him. I can usually sense men who wouldn’t be of any value to Daddy.”
She looked at me, and I shrugged.
Then she walked out, closing the door sharply behind her.
Had I just saved Buddy Gilroy’s life?
And maybe my own?
14
Saved
It occurred to me almost immediately that Buddy had lived up to his promise and surely expected me now to live up to mine. If I didn’t, he might very well go back to Ava, either to spite me or because he wanted what she offered. At school the following day, I stepped out between classes and called him. He didn’t pick up, but I left a message that I would call when I was free. Right before lunch, my phone rang. If anyone’s phone rang in class or even in the hallway, the principal would take away the phone privilege for the rest of the year and suspend the student for at least two days. Before anyone could hear it ring a second time, I charged into the girls’ room.
“Hello,” I said, thinking it might be Daddy.
“You called me,” Buddy said, his voice rich with excitement. “You lived up to your promise. I wanted to believe you, but I couldn’t help being skeptical.”
“How did you get my number?”
He laughed. “Don’t you know that it registered on my phone? Mine probably registered on yours.”
“Oh.”
“You don’t use yours much, do you?”
“No.”
“So, does this mean I have earned our night out? What about this weekend?”
“Things are a little hectic at home. I don’t know exactly when or where we can meet again yet, but I wanted you to know I was happy you did what you promised.”
“I can’t even think of breaking a promise I make to you, Lorelei. How about meeting after school again? I’ll go anywhere you say.”
“I can’t. I have to take my younger sister home today.”
“What about afterward?”
“I can’t today,” I said.
“Bummer. You’re not going to break your promise now, are you?”
“No. I’ll call you as soon as we can meet.”
“I’m going to sleep with this phone,” he said.
I laughed. Two girls from my class, Shirley Fox and Patti Jonston, came in giggling about something. They stopped when they saw me.
“I have to go to class. I’ll call you,” I said quickly, and flipped my phone closed.
“You can get suspended for doing that,” Patti said.
“I was suspended last year,” Shirley said, “and all I did was text my boyfriend. It didn’t even make any noise.”