Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 103104 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103104 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
He nods.
“Be good, okay? No darting off from your teachers, bozo. I mean it.”
He looks away from me, that look of stubbornness I know he gets from me growing on his face. “Th-They better be nice to me or I’ll cut their balls off and stuff them down their throats.”
Sister Margaret rolls her eyes.
“You can’t say those things here.”
“You say them,” he replies.
Sister Margaret gives me side-eye.
I hold my hands out. What does she expect? I was shuffled between tents under the bridge, a foster home, shelters, and inner-city apartments.
Tyler looks up at me. “I-I could have said fucking balls, so it’s not a bad word. Boys have balls. And a dick—”
I hold my hand up. “Nope. Can’t say that word either. School is a lot like Mass, okay? We have to be respectful.”
The nun shakes her head, but I swear I see her lips twitch.
I ruffle his hair. “Did you know they have a killer art department here? Check out that mural. It was done by students.”
He looks to where I’m pointing, an awed expression growing on his face. He adores drawing.
Dr. Rivers has reached us, wearing a smile, and I squeeze his thin shoulders. Tall and attractive, she’s dressed in a cream suit, her hair up in a sleek chignon. She’s here to greet us, which is noteworthy. I’ve never even been able to even talk on the phone with any of the administrators at Tyler’s old school.
My heart clutches, and hope—that thing that’s been so delicate and tenuous with me for months—grows a little stronger as I watch her bend down and greet him then offer to show him to his class.
She stands back up. “Tyler’s going to have a fantastic day, I assure you, and I have your number in case we need you.” She looks at Sister Margaret and nods. “We have the group home’s number as well. Everything’s all set.” She pauses. “Also, congratulations on getting him enrolled. Headmaster Trask pulled quite a few strings to get everything arranged.”
Good.
She smiles. “He’s going to fall in love with his teachers.”
That well of emotion pulls at me again, making my throat tighten. I look around at the artwork, the plush furniture I can see inside the classrooms, the excited faces of teachers as they greet each student. I can’t be his real mom, but I can do this. I can give him a good start. “Thank you.”
She nods and begins to walk with Tyler down the hall.
He sends me a final wave then gets distracted by a little girl who runs up to him, takes his other hand, and leads him off along with Dr. Rivers.
I did the right thing by coming back to Camden. I did. He’s going to be okay.
10
“Holy cow. That’s quite a shiner you’ve got there, Cold and Evil,” are the first words out of my mouth when I take my seat next to Knox in class. I barely made it here after dropping Tyler off, but the high school starts half an hour later than the elementary campus, so I had enough time. Even sat in my car for five minutes, waiting until the last second to get out. Still, I’m not late, and Mrs. White isn’t even standing at the podium yet.
My seat is a mere few inches from his, and I’m aware of the heat from his leg next to mine.
Knox eases away from me, putting more distance there, giving me a half-shrug as he keeps his gaze on his laptop. He’s erecting a force field. A big one.
It makes me want to tear it down, zap it with a ray-gun, peel back the layers, and see what’s underneath.
“If you don’t want to talk, all you have to say is Be quiet, Ava in that deep voice of yours.”
Dang, why did I have to say deep—like I’ve noticed what his voice sounds like.
He taps his fingers on the top of his thigh.
I’ve never seen someone so self-contained. Along with that force field, he’s got a few armored tanks set up on the perimeter when it comes to me. Locked down with cannons itching to fire.
Do not engage with Ava, they seem to declare.
It’s always been that way with him when it comes to me.
Except for that one time…
“Come on, Ava, let’s go upstairs to my room.” Chance breathes in my ear. His hands are on my ass, palming me as we dance.
Loud music blares from speakers set up around his den. His parents are out of town for Labor Day. It’s not a Shark party, like their postgame keggers with only football players and whoever they invite, but more of an all the popular kids from Camden shindig. A few people from Hampton High. Some townies.
“Be mine for real, baby.” His voice slurs.
“You’re drunk.”
“So? Everyone is.”
“I’m not.” Nerves hit me. Maybe I should be—to fit in. Only, I don’t like alcohol and what it does to a person.