Page 35 of Spencer and the Younger Girl
Mrs. Lee continued. “I will drop all charges if you spend your suspension working on the ranch, working off your debt to us.”
Hadley sat up straighter. “But that’s all of spring break.” First, she couldn’t go to Paris, now she’d have to work the entire week. She’d never worked a week in her life. And on a ranch?
Her grandfather studied her for a moment. “Hadley accepts.”
“Papa!”
“Stop being a child, Hadley. There are consequences for your actions.”
She crossed her arms, glaring at the traitor. This was all his idea to begin with. Where were his consequences?
The adults stood, and her grandfather shook Mrs. Lee’s hand. “She’ll be there starting tomorrow.”
Mrs. Lee smiled. “Five AM.”
As soon as she was gone, Hadley shoveled pie into her mouth. Five AM? No one was awake that early. She’d imagined spending her suspension sleeping in and reading on the beach.
Her grandfather shook his head with a laugh. “Shouldn’t have gotten caught, kiddo.”
“You’re enjoying this.” She stared daggers at him.
He held up his thumb and forefinger. “A bit.”
“Next time, I’m telling everyone the entire prank was your idea.”
Roman sat next to her and stole her plate, eating the last bite of pie.
“Hey!” Hadley protested. “After everything I’ve done for you.”
“You should really let me fess up.”
Roman was already hanging on by a string, his grades barely good enough to keep his spot at USF. “No. I can handle a little hard work.”
He snorted. “Sure.”
“You don’t believe me?”
He flashed her a grin before jumping out of his seat. “I’m off to Cassie’s.”
“Sure,” she called after him. “Just leave me in my time of need.”
“You’ll survive.”
Her grandfather and mom both stared at her with wide grins as she put her plate in the dishwasher. “What?”
“I’m just picturing you working on a ranch at five AM.” Her grandfather laughed.
“Sure, just yuck it up, traitors.” She headed for the stairs.
“Don’t say yuck it up,” her grandfather sing-songed. “Makes you sound old.”
She climbed the long staircase and walked down the hall, her steps sounding off the wooden floors. Pushing into her room, she shut the door and leaned back against it.
Her bed sat before her, a twist of purple blankets and unmade sheets piled on top.
It called to her.
Kicking clothes and shoes out of the way, she waded across the mess she promised herself every day she’d clean—and never did.
