Crushing It by Denise Gwen

Author:Denise Gwen [Gwen, Denise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barone Literary Agency

* * *

Once in the car, Dad hummed a tuneless melody, then stopped short.

She looked over at him.

He tapped the steering wheel with a disjointed pattern, a clear sign of discomfort. “Well, it looks to me as if you’re really starting to enjoy high school.”

She shifted in her seat. The jeans, new and crisp, rubbed against her skin like wooden planks. Why hadn’t it occurred to her to wash them first?

“Oh, yeah? What makes you say that?”

“You just seem, oh, I dunno. More interested in doing things with your friends, lately.”

“Oh.”

Dad glanced over at her. “You’re being more social, you know? I don’t think you’ve ever asked for a ride somewhere to see friends on a Saturday night, that’s all.”

“Really? But I’m pretty sure I’ve done things.”

“Of course, you’ve done things—”

“It’s not like I’ve been sitting around at home turning into a mushroom,” she said, her cheeks burning.

“I know that, honey, but in the past, you’ve done more in the way of . . . reading . . . library events, not so much outings with friends, you know what I mean?”

“Or a hermit.”

Why was this embarrassing her so? Dad was acting like he’d caught her out doing something bad.

“It’s okay,” he assured her hastily. “It’s okay.”

She sat back, dumbfounded.

Is he right?

“You look nice,” Dad said.

“Oh, um, thanks.”

What was up with Dad? When did he ever notice what she wore? Although truthfully, a blind man couldn’t fail to notice what she wore tonight.

He tapped the wheel. “It’s good to see you . . . breaking out of your shell.”

“Whatever, Dad.”

He pulled up in front of the Daily Grind on Kirkwood and idled the engine. “You got enough money, sport?”

She grinned. “Sure, Dad. Mom gave me a twenty.”

“That gonna be enough?”

“Well, of course, Dad.”

He reached into his wallet. “Here.”

“No, Dad, I’m good.”

He pressed a twenty into the palm of her hand. “Look, for just in case.”

“Um, okay, thanks?”

“For just in case.”

In case of what?

Dad cleared his throat. “All right, you’ll call when you’re ready to come home?”

“Yep. How late can I stay out?”

“I know it’s not a school night, but no later than ten.”

Mona pulled her cell out of her pocket. Six-fifteen. Ten o’clock seemed ages away.

“On second thought, make it eleven.”

Eleven. Wow.

So sweet of Dad to think she’d be having so much fun she’d need to extend a ten o’clock curfew. All she really wanted—and expected—from the evening, was to get through it in one piece without someone making fun of her. And if at least one boy looked at her—and it didn’t even need to be Esau, it could be anyone—the evening would be a total win.

Just one boy.

It wasn’t expecting too much, was it?

Yes, yes it is.

She doubted it’d take her till ten o’clock for all this excitement to happen. Now, someone like Mindy would probably be having fun all night long.

Mona just wanted to be included.

“All right, Dad. I’ll call when I’m ready to come home.”

He pecked her on the cheek. “Have fun, honey.”

“Sure,” she said, climbing out of the car.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.