“Oh, hey.” I heard a bang, muffling the sound of the TV. “Sorry, it’s kind of loud.”
“You’re fine,” I said. “What are you doing tomorrow?”
“First, I’m going to get out of bed. Then I’m going to sit on the couch.”
“So, you’re free tomorrow evening, then?”
“Yes.” I could hear her smiling.
“Good, because I am just itching to see you.” I held her up a second longer to see if she’d tell me about the job.
“What are we doing tomorrow?” she asked instead.
“I’d like you to choose this time,” I said.
“Then it’s a surprise.”
Mercedes hung up.
Chapter 28
Mercedes
I walked out of my room. My mother sat in the living room with a novel and a cigarette. “Sweetie,” she said, setting her cigarette down.
She motioned for me to sit in the seat across from her. It was meant to be a casual gesture. Really, she just wanted to interrogate me.
“How are you, darling?” she asked.
I sat down. “I’m okay, I guess.”
“Good.” She took a long drag off her cigarette and blew the smoke up over our heads. “How’s your friend?”
“Mother… don’t you dare do this.” I got up, grabbed two sodas, and walked out into the living room where my dad was sitting with the TV turned on full blast. He grabbed both sodas and put the TV on mute.
“Who was that at the door?”
I shot up off the couch and ran into my room. As soon as I slammed the door, they burst out laughing. They were tag-teaming me. I locked the door and took out my laptop. I had to be with Jake in six hours, and I knew they were going to hound me every time I left my room. I didn’t have to work today, though now I was starting to wish I did.
When I did start getting ready, I had to find a way to sneak my makeup bag and curling iron past my mother to get into the bathroom. I waited till it was time, then wrapped them in a towel. That way, I could bunch the towel up and carry it with me.
When I left the room, the towel scraped against my leg, and my makeup bag fell out. “What are you getting all dressed up for?” My mother stared at my bag. “Huh?”
“It’s nothing.” I dipped down. The towel came loose, and the curling iron fell out.
“Are you going out with your friend?”
“Ha!” My dad laughed from the living room.
“Mercedes, I’m your mom. You know you can tell me anything, right?”
“Leave me alone.” I grabbed my things and ran into the bathroom. When I walked out of the bathroom after getting ready, my dad sat at the table, and they both stared at me. “Go away.”
“Sorry, sheesh.” My dad walked back into the living room.
I called Jake as soon as I got inside my room.
“Hello?” he said.