Page 127 of Driftwood Daffodil 2

The logic behind that question was flawed. In her mind was it only people on drugs that stood around? Because I was pretty sure I spent the last seventeen years proving that theory wrong.

Then again, I did manage to knock out a three thousand word essay on arranged marriages in under an hour. So, one could argue that I didn’t need to get cracking as Maw Maw would say. I could still do everything I needed while standing around.

“Novalee Ford!”

“Alright Maw Maw, see you later.” I waved over my shoulder and walked down the path to our crappy plastic gate.

“Make good choices.”

Yeah, that clearly wasn’t happening. Mistakes were kind of my thing. I didn’t even do normal on a good day. Although I did brush my hair today, and put on a little makeup, so I kind of looked normal. Still wasn’t sure why I did that?

The gate, of course, wouldn’t open–not even when I kicked the bottom of it–which left me with no choice but to lift my leg and climb over. Grace had also decided to evade me this morning. My left shoe caught on the latch, causing me to trip flip over to the other side.

I lay on the ground groaning for a second before jumping up and brushing my skirt off. “I’m okay.”

Maw Maw shook her head as I climbed in my truck and drove off to school.

There wasn’t a lot of traffic on the road, which made the drive feel oddly short. It felt like only took five minutes to pull into St. Agatha’s parking lot. Then again I wasn’t necessarily paying attention. Pretty sure I knocked over someone’s mailbox. It could’ve been a trash can? I didn’t see it. I just felt the bump. My mind was otherwise occupied.

I hadn’t talked to Gio since I left his house and I wasn’t looking forward to seeing him again. At least I thought I wasn’t?

It was weird coming home last night. Maw Maw’s trailer was a place I usually felt comfortable. Instead I felt almost guilty. As if I’d done something wrong – which I kind of had.

I sat in the living room watching reruns of Murder She Wrote with Maw Maw and Veda, wondering if they knew? Could they see the sin on me? Could they tell I was different, because I felt different? Everything felt different.

Sighing, I looked out at the various students walking around. Did they know? It felt like I had a big neon sign on my forehead that said, ‘she slept with the enemy and liked it.’

A knock rang though the driver’s door causing me to jump up and bang my head on the roof.

Cursing under my breath I glared through the window at the amusement curling Memphis’s mouth.

“What the hell, Memphis?”

He coughed back a snicker. “It’s not my fault you’re jumpy.”

“Well,” I opened the door and climbed out. “You don’t have to be so sneaky.”

This was like second grade all over again, when he announced his presence by getting in people’s faces. He was the weird kid that year, despite my excessive efforts to take that title.

“Why are you in such a good mood? Isn’t your perfect boyfriend out of town?”

Memphis always got a little grumpy when Chuck had to go out of town for a game. Mostly because his dad never let him tag along. He thought allowing them to spend time together would only confuse Memphis.

That was Mr. Blake’s way of making himself feel better about his son’s sexuality. The last thing Memphis was, was confused. He knew exactly what and who he wanted.

“Why aren’t you in a good mood?” Memphis cocked a brow. “Didn’t you just have a weekend of orgasms and fun?”

I slung my bag over my shoulder and gave him an eye roll. “That was hardly fun.”

“I do believe you used the words insatiable, sex master, and magic dick.”

Well, if he wanted to remember everything. “That didn’t mean it was fun.”

I knew I shouldn’t have called him when I got home. But I had questions. He didn’t have answers because apparently being gay didn’t give him a whole lot of knowledge on female anatomy.

Thank god for Veda and her Epsom salt bath. I told her I fell on my bike, but I don’t think she bought it. Mainly because I didn’t have a bike.

“Based on what you told me, I’d have to disagree. Sounded like fun to me.”

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