Page 12 of My Hotshot

Lottie nodded as she cracked open the water bottle. “Geometry and English. I have to read the first two chapters ofThe Catcher in the Rye.”

I cringed. “Oof. I always hated that one.”

Lottie laughed. “That bad?”

“I mean, I would much rather read something with a little steam.” I winked, and she made a face.

“Mom, ew.”

“Just being honest.”

She popped a strawberry into her mouth, then looked at me with a little more hesitation. “So... I have another question.”

She had already convinced me to schedule her permit test. What else was she planning to strong-arm me into?

“Hit me with it.”

“Tiff, Julie, and Desi asked if I could go to the movies with them Saturday night and then spend the night at Tiff’s.”

My eyes widened.

“It’s not a school night,” she rushed to add, “and I promise to be home by noon on Sunday. We can go to the farmers market Saturday morning like you wanted, and then you could drop me off at Tiff’s.”

The immediate answer on the tip of my tongue wasno.I didn’t want to say it, but it was there.

She had friends. Good ones, from the sounds of it. That was what I wanted, right?

But sleepovers? At a new house with parents I hadn’t met?

“Just the four of you?” I asked, trying to keep my tone casual.

Lottie nodded. “Yup. They want to have a girls’ night.”

“No boys?”

She shook her head. “As far as I know, no. And if there are, I’ll let you know right away and then kick them in the nuts while I run away.”

I choked out a laugh. “Okay, I don’t think you need to gothatfar. But I would like to know if your party of four expands.”

Lottie held up her hand in a mock salute. “I swear I will tell you if it’s more than the four of us.”

“I’m going to want to meet Tiff’s parents when I drop you off.”

“Totally,” she nodded.

Lottie was a good kid. She’d never given me a real reason not to trust her. I had to let her go have fun, even if that fun didn’t include me.

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Did you throw in the farmers market to soften me up?”

She gave an exaggerated shrug. “Maybe. Did it work?”

I rolled my eyes and opened the fruit container. “It did. But for the record, I would have said yes without it.”

Lottie squealed and hopped off the stool to hug me. I wrapped my arms around her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. She smelled like strawberries and shampoo.

“I’m gonna work on my geometry before dinner,” she said, slinging her backpack over her shoulder. “Thanks for letting me stay at Tiff’s.”

I nodded and watched her walk down the hallway toward her room. She was humming, light on her feet, completely at ease in this new life of ours.

---