Binding Off by Kelly Vincent

Author:Kelly Vincent [Vincent, Kelly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: KV Books LLC

I sat on my bed a couple Sunday mornings later finishing up my cardigan and thinking about Mateo. I’d missed most of the movie last night because we’d spent all of it making out. I loved his hair and how he always tasted like orange.

And last night he’d squeezed my butt while we were making out outside, waiting for Mom to pick us up.

My thoughts were interrupted when Mom opened the bedroom door. She had on pink pajama bottoms with sheep on them and a white tank top. Her pink nail polish looked a little ragged and she was gripping a small brown paper lunch bag.

“When are we going to get manicures again, Mom?”

“Oh, that sounds fun. Let’s go this afternoon. But hey, have a minute?”

“Sure.” I wondered what this was about. She hardly ever had serious talks with me. But I couldn’t wait to get a manicure. I was going to get blue polish.

I crossed my legs and she sat on the end of the bed, setting the paper bag next to her. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail, but she still had a full face of makeup on.

She took a deep breath. “So you’ve been spending a lot of time with Mateo.”

Oh, no. Was this going to be The Sex Talk? I could have sworn we’d already had that. I cautiously said, “Uh-huh.”

She put her hand on my knee. “Is there anything I need to know?”

“Um.” Oh, no, for real. I stared at her hand and one of the nails that had chipped polish. “No.”

“I know how teenage boys are.” She looked over my shoulder and cocked her head to the side, adding, “Not that grown men are much different.”

“No, there’s nothing going on.” To avoid looking at her, I stared at my cardigan, still on my needle.

“Listen, you don’t have to tell me. I just want you to know you can talk to me if you want to. And it’s okay for you to do what you want. There’s nothing wrong with doing what feels good.”

This was mortifying. “Mom, stop. Nothing like that’s going on. I’m only thirteen.”

“Going on fourteen. Honey, you don’t want to get pregnant. I’m way too young to be a grandma.” She laughed.

“I’m not going to get pregnant because I’m not doing anything.”

“I know it can be difficult to talk to your old mom about it. But I brought you these.” She picked up the bag and reached out to give it to me.

Oh, my God. “Mom, whatever that is, I don’t need it.”

“Take them. You never know when you might need protection. Now that you’ve got yourself a sweet Latin lover.”

“Mom! That’s racist.”

“No, it’s not. I was just joking.” She was still holding the bag out while she chuckled.

“Fine.” I grabbed the bag from her and refused to look inside, though it was very light.

“You do know how to put a condom on, right?”

“God, Mom!” I covered my face with my hands.

“You do, though?”

“Yes!” We’d seen it in sex ed.

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