Page 10 of The Odds of Happily Ever After
Mama swatted his arm, which only made him laugh. “Oh, be quiet,” she said. “Luna, how are you?”
“I’m good,” I said. “I’m finally getting the hang of balancing school and work.”
“Are you sure you can do both?” Papa asked, frowning. “You know you need to keep your grades up to maintain your scholarship. If you lose it, having a job won’t matter.”
“I know. My grades are okay. I mean, they’re nothing like Lonzo’s, but they’re good enough for my scholarship requirement,” I added.
If the comparisons between me and my brother hadn’t been obvious enough, they sure were when he got accelerated, putting us in the same year level despite me being a year older.
Papa harrumphed. “Just make sure you keep it that way. We can’t afford for you to stay there if you don’t have that scholarship.”
The pressure to excel weighed heavier on my chest. “Yes, Papa.”
“What if you just came home?” Mama asked, catching me off-guard. “You moved there so you and Tala could be together, but she’s here now. So is Papa. There’s no reason for you to stay where no one can look after you.”
I fought to keep my face from crumpling. Mama didn’t say anything I hadn’t thought of before, but to hear it from her?
Between my parents, I thought she’d believed in me a bit more.
“I . . .” I swallowed, hating how small my voice sounded. “I thought the plan was for all of us to move here one day?”
“Not anymore,” Papa said. “Tala doesn’t want to live there, and we’re almost done paying off your lola’s hospital bills. Your mama’s right—it’s not good for you to be alone.”
“Ate lived alone for years.”
“That was your sister. She’s always been independent.”
Not like you.He didn’t say it, but I heard it just the same.
Pressing my lips tight together, I sucked in a shallow breath that only drove what felt like a shard of glass deeper into my chest. I tried to inject as much confidence into my voice as I could muster. “I can do it too.”
“You don’t need to be there. Tala went to help with the bills, but now that your lola’s gone and Alonzo has a full scholarship, we can manage. Anyway, you’re studyingmanagement.”
My mouth fell open. “I chose that because you wanted me to study something practical.” If I had it my way, I would’ve gone into fashion, but my parents would never have approved.
“I wanted you to study nursing like your mama and Tala,” Papa said. “You can continue your classes here. It won’t make a difference.”
“We’re just worried about you.” Mama spoke in an appeasing tone. “You’re on your own, and we don’t want you to put too much pressure on yourself.”
They didn’t seem worried when Ate did the same. But why would they? She always was the strong, independent child they could count on.
“It’s not too much pressure,” I insisted. “And I like being here. It’s a chance for me to grow.”
“Is that why you want to stay, or is it the boys?” Papa’s eyes narrowed.
I reared back. “What? Of course not!”
“You say that now, but if you get pregnant?—”
“Papa! I’m not even dating anyone.”
He started to say something, but Mama shushed him. “Remember what I told you before you left,” she told me.
Like I could forget her speech about giving myself away and risking disease, pregnancy, and throwing my future down the drain. “I remember, Mama. I told you—I’m focusing on school and work.”
“You should, or we’ll buy you a ticket home,” Papa said sternly.
I wanted a ticket home—to visit. Not because they thought I couldn’t make it on my own or that I’d lose my mind over a guy. “I promise I won’t do anything to jeopardize my future.”
