“Where the hell have you been?” Mandy practically shouts at me when I open the apartment door.
“I lost my keys and couldn't get in last night.”
“You should have called! Or at least answered your phone when I called!” she says, glaring at me as I shoulder past her and toss my purse on the table.
“My phone died.”
“I bought you a little portable charger for Christmas last year,” Mandy says, following me to my room.
“Okay, and I should have had it with me, but I didn't, and that's why I didn't call. I'm fine, Mandy. Only a few people even saw my walk of shame,” I say, motioning to the party dress I'm wearing once again. “Besides, you were out all night, too.”
“With Bradley,” she says, like being with Bradley is akin to being with the President or something. “Who were you with?” she asks. I pause. It's enough to put Mandy on high alert. “A guy? Christ, tell me you didn't go home with one of those pathetic freshman football players.”
“I did not go home with a freshman football player,” I confirm. She folds her arms, waiting for me to fully answer the question. “I went home with Finn Thorne.”
“Oh my god! Seriously? Did he try anything?”
“Mandy, stop! He didn't try anything. I mean, he did, but— he took care of me, and then when I came around we both wanted it.”
“You had sex with him?” she nearly shouts.
“No! And even if I did, I'm wagering you had sex with Bradley,” I countered.
“That’s different. Finn is trouble, Kenley, and you know it. Everyone knows it. And oh, yeah, he got arrested the first time you met for fighting. I’m not saying he isn’t hot. I’m not even saying having sex with him wouldn’t be enjoyable or whatever. But he’s a bad idea. Bradley has some friends on the rowing team— let me introduce you to them, if athletes are suddenly your thing.”
“Why would I want to meet them?” I ask, exasperated.
Mandy looks surprised that I’d even ask. “Because they’re every bit as hot as any of those football players, but without any of the aggression that comes from years of being told to smash into people and the resulting concussions. How about that?”
I press my lips together, shake my head at her. Mandy has always been quick on her feet— I should have known not to ask her a question like that. “Look, Finn isn’t aggressive. He got in that fight because someone was shitty to me. If someone’s shitty to you, what’s Bradley going to do? Threaten to have his dad sue them?”
Mandy’s nostrils flare. “Okay, one, you don’t even know Bradley. And two, is that what you want in a guy? Someone who can beat up people for you? Because I think you’re after a bodyguard, then, not a boyfriend.”
“This is pointless, Mandy. I’m not after any of those things. And really, it’s none of your business,” I snap, and start to shut my bedroom door. But her words have shaken me a little bit. I don’t regret what I did with Finn last night, but am I being naïve to think it could really go anywhere? He’s a sexy football player who’s headed for the NFL. I think about those girls he was with that night. How could one person – how could I -- ever be enough for him?
“It’s mom’s business, though!” Mandy shouts.
I freeze, speak without turning around. “Why the hell is it her business, exactly?”
Mandy is treading very, very carefully. “You know you can have a relationship with a tutoring client. If mom tells Dr. Reams—“
“Why would you tell mom, Mandy? Seriously? What’s the point?” I whirl around and face her, face tight with anger. “Because I’m not doing what you want?”
“I’m not trying to be like this! I just think he’s bad for you. How are you not seeing the warning signs?” Mandy says, and from the glint of worry in her eyes, I can tell she knows she’s gone too far by threatening to tell our mother.
“You’re only seeing warning signs, and conveniently ignoring the fact that when you left me at a party alone, while I was drinking, Finn Thorne is the one that helped me out,” I answer. “Which, by the way— you leaving me there can also be mom’s business.”
Mandy’s eyes narrow. This is the perfect potential retaliation. Our mother has been drilling into us the concept of safety in numbers, especially on a college campus, since we were in middle school— and as the older sister, Mandy has always been expected to take responsibility of me. Finding out she left me at a party, especially a Football House party, would be almost as bad as my mom finding out something was going on between me and a tutoring client.