Page 77 of Wallflower

"Sure, Mom," I said, putting the book I'd been reading down. It was getting good, too. "How about you?"

"Not so fast," she laughed. "I know that trick. Throwing the question back at the other person, so you don't have to talk about yourself. Nice try."

My cheeks went hot. That was exactly what I'd been doing.

"You know me too well," I said.

She smiled, and I grinned back.

"I've missed you, baby. You've been so busy," she said, "what with the shelter, school andsoccer." Her voice rose on the last word as if she still couldn't believe it.

I shrugged. "Turns out watching cute guys kick a ball around isn't so bad after all."

"Oh, I completely agree." She lifted a knowing brow. "Back in the day, I fell head over heels for one of those guys, and you were the end result."

"Ugh, Mom," I said, feeling my nose scrunch up. "TMI. Please, let's not discuss you and Dad's sappy love story."

"Okay, okay." Mom sighed and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "We just haven’t gotten a chance to talk in a while, so I wanted to check in."

And that was why I loved her.

Mom always knew if something was up with me. She had that sixth sense some mothers do about their children. Too bad I couldn't talk to her about this.

"School's been fine," I said. "The shelter's still my happy place, though."

"I thought I heard you playing last night."

"Yeah. I was practicing some new covers I found. Sorry, if I woke you."

"No need to apologize. You know I love to hear you play."

I peeked up at her. "I did ask you and Dad if we could soundproof my room at one point."

She shook her head. "And I told you, I'd seen one too manyLifetimemovies for that to ever happen. You could end up shoved into a trunk or something like Mad-Eye Moody, and then what?"

"Yeah, but Harry, Hermione, and Ron would find me, and all would be well again."

Mom rubbed my shoulder. "Sounded a little melancholy."

I gave myself a mental head slap. Of course! Now, her questions all made sense. Music was my outlet. Mom knew I liked to play out my feelings through the pieces I chose. It was a tell I'd have to be careful about in the future.

"Want to tell me what's going on?"

She'd given me the perfect opening, and honestly, I thought about taking it. Mom gave great advice. I pictured how it would all go down.

Well, Mom, I'm not sure if you know this, but Dad hired one of his players—you remember Dare Frost?—to be my friend, and because I was insulted I decided to get revenge. How, you ask? I was going to pretend like I fell in love with Dare and that he broke my heart. The funny thing is…I actually fell for him.

Yeah, so not happening.

"I'm good, Mom. Really," I said. "Just a little nervous about graduating."

Mom hummed under her breath. "If you ever need someone to listen, I'm here for you."

"I know." I swallowed as tears threatened. I really did wish I could tell her.

"Any big plans this weekend?"

I took a deep breath. "I'm supposed to go to a party tonight. Would that be okay?"

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