12.
Texts And Letters
Lenley
I SMILE NERVOUSLY ASI climb into the passenger seat of Mom’s car.
I had to pretend to look for a bathroom and I spent a full ten minutes panicking about what she’ll really think about seeing me out with one of the Devils.
“I’m nineteen so it’s not like I need her permission to go out,” I repeat to myself like a mantra as Mom merges back into the main road that follows the coastline, climbing the hills overlooking the whole of Star Cove.
The silence between us is heavy with anticipation and I don’t know what to expect when she finally exhales.
“Were you really looking for a bathroom, or did I just interrupt your date?”
Shit.
I guess there’s no need to beat around the bush, huh? “It wasn’t a date—” I say as a knee jerk reaction more than anything else, because ... it’s the truth.
Mom must’ve been holding her breath too, because her reaction is a slow exhale; she looks more tired than angry. “You don’t need to justify being out with a boy, Len. I’m just surprised about the identity of your date.”
Yeah, I totally understand that. “It really wasn’t a date, Mom. I swear I’m not looking for excuses. It just—”
“I’m seriously not angry, Lenley,” she says, pointedly.
“It seriously wasn’t a date,” I insist, because the apple really doesn’t fall that far from the tree and I get my stubborn streak from both my parents. “I was out with Sarah earlier and I bumped into Kiara ...”
I tell her what happened at the water park and how Channing came to my rescue and then invited me to the movies.
Obviously I leave out the part where we made out in the back of his truck rather than watching the movie and how he made me come.
But Mom wasn’t born yesterday and she’s always been very observant, especially when it comes to me. “Right. It must’ve been one hell of a movie, judging by the love bites all over your neck.”
Oh, fuck me. “I—”
She puts the car in park in our driveway and turns to look at me. “Look, baby girl, I’m not mad, seriously. I’m just worried. Yesterday morning you were crying about Darrius not reciprocating your feelings and now—I don’t care if you sleep with someone else, Len. I just don’t want you to do it for the wrong reasons. Forgive me if your choice of companion makes me wonder if you’re just trying to make Darrius jealous.”
I can’t entirely blame her for thinking that. “It’s not just to make Darrius jealous, Mom. Channing helped me today and I like him,” I say, surprised by the fact that it’s true.
Sure, the guys and I have a deal. And granted, part of that deal is making Darrius regret that he rejected me.
However, if I have to be honest with myself, revenge wasn’t my only reason for agreeing to this deal.
Peyton was so gentle with me the other night on the beach and Channing stood up for me earlier today. The guys have shown me that they have my back more than Darrius and Kiara—who were supposed to be my best friends—ever did.
The fact that they’re really attractive and that they offered to show me all the stuff I missed out on while waiting for Darrius to notice me, is another big part of it. Of course I don’t tell Mom any of that or she’d think I’ve lost my mind.
“You like him,” she says, looking at me. “But tonight you were about to go into a hotel room with him while on a ‘non date.’ Can you blame me if I’m worried?”
I know she wants the best for me, but I can’t help thinking that the cause of her concern is mostly the elephant in the room. “Look, I know he’s part of our rival team, but—”
Again, she surprises me. “I’m not worried about that, Len.”
“You aren’t upset because he’s one of the Cove Devils?”
She shakes her head. “No, baby girl. I actually think that having a better relationship with the other team in town isn’t that bad. I wish there was a way to have a friendly rivalry rather than an all out war, like it’s been so far. That’s why I invited the Cove Devils to our party the other night and why I offered them a private visit to the museum. We might be rivals in the air but there’s no reason to hate each other.”
I love Mom’s sentiment but I don’t know if it’s possible to be more friendly, not looking at the way Darrius and Peyton hate each other.
“The reason why I’m worried,” Mom says, turning to look at me, “Is that I’ve heard what everyone in town says about the men in our rival team. They party, they sleep around ... Len, sweetie, they aren’t boyfriend material. You might’ve not heard the rumors because you were away most of last year but everyone calls them The Heartbreakers. So whatever is going on with Channing Ford, baby girl, I’d be careful. I just don’t want you to get your heart broken if Channing moves on once he gets what he wants.”
I know Mom is just looking out for me, but my reaction to her warning is a lot harsher than intended. “I’ve heard that nickname!” I snap. “People should just shut the fuck up when they don’t know what they’re talking about. Channing has shown me nothing but kindness since we met at your party the other night. It isn’t like he tries to lie his way into women’s pants, he doesn’t promise anything he doesn’t intend to give.”
Mom’s eyes flash with worry. “And is what he intends to give enough for you? Just a good time until he gets bored and moves on to chase after his next conquest?”
I shake my head in disbelief about the hypocrisy of this entire town. “Well at least he isn’t leading me on, using me to make his girlfriend jealous and then walking all over me when he doesn’t need me anymore! Do you think Darrius and the Angels are any better? I don’t get why Channing and his friends get badmouthed all over town when Darrius does exactly the same thing! Or do you not know how Darrius celebrates his victories? At least Channing doesn’t have a girlfriend he cheats on whenever he gets bored or he goes out of town for an event.”