Page 23 of Savage in the Sweets
To make matters worse, April’s mother is Lacy’s sister, and they are incredibly close. The goodwill I earned from pulling Jacob out of the water is only going to go so far.
“I promise that by the end of the week, I’ll get in touch with her,” I tell Michael, taking a position next to him and opening the book we’ve been reading. “But right now, we need to fight some dragons.”
For twenty minutes, Michael is engrossed in a fantasy land with princes, knights, and dragons, but I read on autopilot as my mind is preoccupied with the confectionary temptress and her short shorts.
I hardly believe that she actually wanted to join my gym. It was more likely that she had come to plead her case, played up her sex appeal, hoping to curry favor.
“Dad?” Michael’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. “Are you just going to hold the book all night?”
It takes me a moment to realize I’ve finished the chapter, and when I try to recall what I just read, my mind goes blank. Usually, Michael and I discuss which characters we like and all the major plot points I’ve read, but tonight I’m going to have to skip straight to kisses and nightlights.
“You seem like you have a lot on your mind,” Michael says as I pull the covers up over him.
“It’s hard moving. There’s a lot of stuff that needs to get done, and it’s been distracting me.”
“Why do you hate Miss Lacy?” he asks innocently.
“Hate Miss Lacy? Where did you hear that?”
“Some of the kids were talking about how you wanted to ruin her business and run her out of town.”
“Well, those kids have it all wrong. I’m fine with her operating her business, but she doesn’t belong on school property.”
Michael frowns. “A lot of kids like Miss Lacy. And they don’t like you. Some of them were giving me mean looks and wouldn’t play with me at recess.”
My breath hitches in my throat. It hadn’t occurred to me that Michael could suffer repercussions for my speech at the school board meeting.
“I know you want what’s best for me, but I want friends.”
His voice guts me, needling me with pain. There were other ways I could have approached the topic of candy on school grounds that wouldn’t have put Micheal in the crosshairs, but I loathe cowards and always seek to confront my enemies on an open field.
I have to find a way to make this right.
“I promise I’m going to see what I can do about getting you a sleepover,” I say. “And pretty soon, classes at the gym will start, and you’re going to have plenty of kids who are going to want to hang out with you.”
His lips downtick into a frown. “I hope.”
I give him a kiss, then exit his room, letting the weight of our conversation damn near suffocate me.
There’s only one thing to do, and that is whatever is best for Michael. I may not like having to compromise, but it’s better to bend than to break.
Lacy
How one deals with their enemies says a lot about a person. Some hide in the shadows, striking with anonymity.
Cowards.
While others compete on an open field, as Mr. Tracksuit had at the last school board meeting.
Assholes.
I’m not one to make enemies, so this is all new to me. As far back as I remember, everyone has always wanted to be my friend. I was never bullied, or at least not in the true sense of the word. Sure, a few boys teased me, but it was usually because they liked me and were at an age where they didn’t know how to express it.
I pour myself another glass of wine, mulling over my dreadful situation. Do war generals drink when they’re plotting? Is that what gives them such courage to make the hard-ass decisions they do?
Mr. Tracksuit came out of nowhere, reigning terror on my domain, turning my friends and allies against me with ease. I still can’t believe the approval he garnered in the room full of people eating my cupcakes and cake pops.
I’m not going to be an asshole, nor am I a coward, which is why I’m going to deal with this issue in the most savagely sweet way I know how: by turning my enemy into my friend.
