Page 46 of The Curve
I smell a rat. I so want to be wrong for her sake.
I can’t tell her how I feel. How would that sound? I just take it day by day, praying I’ve misinterpreted his actions and making excuses for his behavior.
“Jeffrey was disappointed when he heard Atticus wouldn’t be bringing me and Paige. He wanted to introduce him to some of his friends. They all want pictures with him.”
Ah huh.
There it is.
Shit.
“I thought he met his friends at the pool party.”
She looks so young sitting cross legged on the floor with her hair in pigtails. I want to protect her from people like this boy, but it’s impossible.
“That was just a couple of friends. He’s got lots of them. Look.”
She turns the screen of her cell to me and I see a picture of Jeffrey and some of his friends. The blonde girl next to him is leaning close. They all look older than Mallory.
“Did you take that picture?”
“No. He doesn’t even know I have it,” she says sheepishly.
“Tell me.”
“It’s nothing bad. He friended me on Facebook. Paige showed me how to go into his pictures and save a copy to my photo roll.”
I take the next five seconds to think about my response. This sounds intrusive at the very least.
“Just remember if you can do it so can he, or anyone else that’s your friend.”
“I know. My pictures are boring. No one would want them.”
She gets up and crosses to the refrigerator. “Want something to drink, Mom?”
“Bring me a water, please.”
My cell sounds and when I see it’s Atticus I connect on the first ring. “Hi, handsome.”
“You’re gonna make me get a big head.”
There’s a couple of good jokes there but Mallory’s too close.
“Let me get to my bedroom. What’re you doing?”
A big sigh escapes his lips before he answers. “I’m in bed already. I’m beat.”
I get inside the room and close the door behind me. “Poor baby. I wish I could be there. I’d give you a rub.”
“I’d give you one back. Right on your sweet pussy. I swear I wouldn’t stop until your neighbors know my name.”
That one makes me laugh. “You have something all women want, a pure heart and a dirty mind.”
“I’m so bored here. Never had that happen before. And I have no desire to go out with any of them. I had dinner then came up here. The Atlanta Sheraton’s my hangout for the next few days.”
I sigh my frustration.
“I’ll be glad to get past tomorrow night. Mallory’s so excited. Just pray it ends up a happy memory.”
