Page 12 of Kissing the Debutant
“Yeah, I know. I have a visitor.”
“I brought you a protein shake and some of my workout clothes if you want to make an escape.”
“Thanks, Devyn.” Lillian met her on the next landing. “But I better get it over with. She’s here to talk about the debutant ball in Lexington in a few weeks.”
“You’re a deb this year?” Devyn tapped her riding crop against her shiny leather boots. “Been there. It’s the worst. I’m just glad I had cotillion last year.”
“You’d think my mom would rather I throw myself into practice than parade around a bunch of rich people at her country club.”
“It’s a pain, right? We’ve both got bigger priorities this year.” Devyn shrugged. “Gotta get to the stables. Good luck with your mom.”
“See you at dinner.” Lillian took the last flight of steps at a snail’s pace. Devyn was the closest thing she had to a friend at this school. They understood each other in a way none of their peers did. They had a drive few other girls their age could comprehend.
“Well it’s about time,” Daria Preston snapped the second Lillian stepped into her dorm room.
“Hi, Mom. I didn’t realize you were stopping by.” Lillian ignored her mother’s tapping, disapproving foot. “It’s nice to see you.” She dropped her messenger bag into her desk chair and kicked off her shoes. Her feet made her look like she was an accident victim. Bruised and swollen in places, and cracked and bleeding in others, she had the feet of a dedicated ballerina who worked tirelessly at her craft. Sitting on the floor, Lillian rubbed the arch of her foot, working out the stiffness. She had to tape up her feet to prepare for her class with Katrina later.
“Leave that for later.” Her mother took the surgical tape from her daughter’s hand. “We need to pick a dress for cotillion.”
Lillian eyed the rolling rack of fluffy white dresses her mother had brought with her. “It’s weeks away, Mom. You didn’t have to make a special trip for this.”
“You’ll need alterations, and we can’t risk not having the perfect dress, dear.” She snapped her fingers, gesturing for Lillian to stop her foot stretches and get her mind on fashion.
“You know I’ll wear whatever you choose. They’re all lovely.” Lillian feigned interest in the dresses. “Which one do you like?”
“I need to see them on you, dear. Start with this one.” Her mom pressed a long white Grecian style dress into her arms and ushered her into the bedroom. It was going to be a long afternoon.
“I have practice soon, just so you know.”
“I called Katrina on my way in. She’s going to let us practice late this evening. The janitor will be there to lock up when we’re done. Now go change.”
“Okay.” Lillian reluctantly stepped into her bedroom to try on the first of more than a dozen dresses. So much for having dinner with Wylder and Devyn tonight. She would be lucky if she had dinner at all.
4
Jack:
“Hey, Lil.” Jack opened the studio door after hours. “Long time, no see.”
“What does he mean, Lillian? Have you been slacking?” An angry and scary looking older lady shoved past him like he was just part of the scenery.
“No, Mom.” Lillian rolled her eyes, ignoring Jack just like her mother had.
“Come on in.” Jack held his hand out as Lillian rushed into the dark studio.
“Turn some lights on, young man.” The older woman snapped her fingers at him.
He didn’t respond well to demanding stage moms.
“Mother, I’ve been here every single day practicing. He’s just trying to be funny.” She shot him a scathing look.
“Let’s run through your warm up and the practice routine Coach Kozlovsky choreographed for you.” Lillian’s mother marched through the studio, flipping on all the lights as if the place belonged to her. Jack took an instant disliking to her.
“Mother, don’t be rude.” Lillian tried to shoo her mother to one of the back rooms. “Jack has already closed up the front studio.”
“I’m sure he won’t mind turning the lights off again when we are done.”
Yep, she was definitely the worst stage mom Jack had ever seen.
