“We’re just friends,” I rush to say.
“I don’t kiss any of my friends,” she says smugly as she pulls out of the school parking lot. She’s not fooled in the least.
“He keeps calling himself my boyfriend,” I give in, telling my mom. I don’t know why I was fighting it. I tell her pretty much everything. “He makes me laugh,” I add, biting my lip.
Mom peeks over at me. “He seems sweet. I just want you to remember—”
“I know, Mom.” I look out the window. Mom and I are close and have had the sex talk multiple times. She even put me on the pill when I turned seventeen, saying I might not be having sex but one day I would be and this was so I was prepared.
“I know you do, darling girl, but I’m your mom and I have to remind you.” She pats my leg so I look back over to her. “You can come to me for anything.”
“I know.” I lean over and kiss her cheek.
“Now tell me everything.”
I give her a rundown of my day. I skip the dick-punching and how hot and heavy my makeout session was with Owen. Some things are better left alone. I don’t want her worrying over an asshole like JJ, who I hadn’t seen since that class.
“Melody sounds…” Mom searches for a word.
“Different,” I supply. “A hip kind of different though. I think I’m going to like her.” I hope I do. I’m going to be paired up with her for the rest of the semester. She’s different and I can’t get a read on her. For some reason I enjoy that. Most of the kids at my old school were cut from the same cloth so meeting new people who are interesting is a good thing.
“You should invite her or Owen over for dinner on Friday. Both if you want.” Mom sounds super excited about this. It’s then I remember Owen asked me to a party. Well, he kind of asked me. He invited me on my calendar but I haven’t clicked it yet.
“Owen will have a game.”
“Oh, so you’re going?”
“Yeah, I think I am.” Owen didn’t ask me to but I want to see him play. I’m not so sure about the party but if he wants to do that I guess I could. We might end up making out in the car. I really like the sound of that.
“Your dad is going to be so excited,” Mom says as she pulls into the garage. When I get out Dad is already opening the door to the garage. He kisses Mom first before giving me a hug.
“How was your first day, sweetheart?” He kisses me on top of the head.
“Good.” I hug him back.
“So I—”
“I have no idea what college he’s going to,” I answer before Dad can ask, making him let out a small laugh.
“She’s going to his game on Friday though,” my mom adds in for me.
“He’s a good kid I hear.” Of course Dad asked around. I knew he would if Mom told him about Owen this morning. It’s hard to think of Owen as a kid. He’s bigger than my dad. When I first saw him I was sure he was in college.
“He’s funny,” I repeat.
“Yeah, super funny,” Mom teases me. I roll my eyes while Dad fights a laugh. I grab a banana off the kitchen counter. “I’m going to shower.”
“You need more than a banana.” Mom tries to stop me from leaving.
“Let me change and it’s late.” I give her a kiss on the cheek and then Dad. What I really want to do is text Owen. I put my phone into my bag and now I am itching to see if he texted me. I might have a problem. I’ve been away from him for ten minutes and I’m already wanting to talk to him again.
I head upstairs. I make myself shower and change before I finally give in and grab my phone. My heart gives a happy flutter when I see that Owen texted me. Not only once but twice.
BF: Ace, thought you were going to text me when you got home?
BF: Give a man a break here. One text isn’t going to kill you. It will kill me.
I fire back a quick response.
Me: I was in the shower. Sorry.
I could have told him I was in bed or talking to my parents but I wanted him to know I was in the shower. My body still buzzes from our makeout session.
BF: You cannot tell me shit like that.
I don’t have to fight a smile this time. We aren’t face to face for him to read every detail of what I am thinking. I’m pretty sure I show everything on my face like Mom does.
Me: Want to tell me why your number is labeled as BF?