Page 44 of Grease Monkey
It’s said with disdain. She hates when I do that because then my blonde curls become wild ringlets that will not be tamed no matter how much tugging and pulling and hairspray you use. I smile, unable to stop the muscles tugging my lips upward at the annoyance written across my mom’s face—little victories.
“I wish you’d listen to me get them chemically straightened. You’re eighteen now, Morgana, not a little girl. It’s time to stop looking like one.”
My smile drops at the same time my stomach does. I reach up and hold a chunk of my hair like each individual curl could hear her and are personally offended by her comment. Why can’t she love me for me? Nohappy birthday, honey, no big celebration for this milestone, simply a teeth whitening kit, a designer handbag, and a pat on the shoulder from Dad.
Happy birthday to you, Morgana.
“I need to get dressed,” I say, hating how meek my voice sounds. Mom nods and disappears from the doorway, the soft snick of her closing it behind her, ricocheting like a deadlock bolt through the room.
Turning to my closet, I inhale.
Just a few more hours and everything changes, Morgana.
“My, what a beautiful young lady you’ve grown into.” An older lady with an even older gentleman says as Mom introduces me to yet another one of herfriends.I plaster on my camera-ready smile and offer a polite nod before looking around the room and counting the number of exits. A fire escape to the left of the bar. A cloakroom by the main doorway to the hall. A staff-only sign, which I think is for the kitchen, by the far end of the room.
“…And you remember Richard, Morgana darling?” Mom asks, her fingers digging into my arm as she forces my attention to a man a few years older than Teddy standing by a lady I’m guessing has to be his mother, going off the similarities between the pair.
“Oh, yes, Richard. Hi. It’s nice to see you again.”Even though I haven’t seen you since I was maybe ten years old.
“Morgana,” he says, clasping my hand in his and kissing it. “Happy birthday.”
“Th—thanks,” I stutter, unaware he even remembered who I was, let alone that today is my birthday. He was always the weird, shy boy who didn’t want to play with Skip and me when his parents came to our house.
“Richard is graduating from Yale this year, Morgana,” Mom beams at Richard, her grip tightening slightly as she edges me closer to him.
“That’s impressive,” I deadpan, and while my mom doesn’t notice, Richard does, dropping his head and smirking.
“It really is,” she continues while Richard’s mother looks bored listening to mine gush about her son. “And your father has already headhunted him to work at his firm.”
“It’s an entry-level position,” Richard interjects. “Nothing fancy.”
“Oh, nonsense, Richard. I’m sure you’ll climb the ranks faster than anyone ever could.”
I fight an eyeroll and quickly run my eyes across Richard’s perfectly tailored suit, slicked-back blond hair, and classically handsome face. He is the epitome of anice-lawyer-boyMom has spoken about recently. Every time she sees Teddy outside, she happens to mention how Harvard is full of them, and one day soon, I’ll find myself one—a good one—I can make the perfect wife to. Richard’s good-looking, I guess, and he seems lovely enough, but he isn’t Teddy.
“It was great to see you again, Mrs. Adler,” Richard says. “Please let your husband know I would love to speak to him before the evening is over.” He turns to me, leaning down to kiss my cheek, lingering for a beat as he says, “You look beautiful, Morgana. I’m glad I got to see you tonight.”
His eyes flicker down my long pink dress, and it feels suffocating. Like the material is too tight, and I can’t breathe.
As Richard walks away, Mom’s fingers claw into my skin. “What ishedoing here?”
My head swivels to where she is glowering. My heart leaps, and my face breaks into the first genuine smile I’ve had all day.
Teddy. He’s here, completely underdressed in faded dark jeans and an open flannel shirt with a dark gray Henley underneath. He looks like sin, standing there with his hands in his pockets as he looks around, until he notices me and casually walks across the room like he owns the place.
“Ana,” he practically purrs, and my body leans into him. “Happy birthday, baby.”
Without thinking, I throw my arms around his neck and press my lips to his. Mom gasps in horror, and Teddy hums against my mouth, circling his arms around my waist and hauling me close to his chest.
“You look fucking gorgeous,” he mutters against me.
“Morgana Adler, let go of that boy now,” Mom hisses, but I hold on tighter. “What do you think you are playing at, Theodore? This is a private function. You do not belong here.”
“Teddy,” he clips, and I bury my head into his neck to stop from laughing.
“You need to leave. Now.”
“That’s a great idea, Mom,” I say, spinning and smiling at her. She is going to kill me, so I might as well enjoy this. “We’re both going to leave.”
