How to Keep Rolling After a Fall by Karole Cozzo

Author:Karole Cozzo
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781250079299
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Chapter 11

Saturday afternoon through Tuesday night, I exert a lot of energy dodging my parents. I grab meals at off times, pick up an extra shift at the rehab center, and do more studying than I’m used to. It doesn’t seem that they’re eager to start the next battle round with me, either, and there’s little follow-up to my dramatics from Friday night and Pax’s passionate plea from Saturday morning.

Then Wednesday morning dawns.

I’m tucking my polo shirt into my kilt when my mom knocks on my door and pokes her head inside my room. I become very concerned with making sure my shirt is even and don’t bother to turn around. “I’m almost ready. I’ll be down in a minute.” It’s seven eleven, and she’s probably having a coronary.

She surprises me by coming into my room instead of retreating, slowly walking over to my bed and sitting down on the end. “Please sit down,” she quietly instructs me.

“Aren’t you going to be late?” I hedge, bending over and tugging at my kneesocks. It’s really too early to do this.

“I called my secretary. I told her I might be a few minutes late this morning.”

Crap. This can’t be good. I take my time making my way over to the bed and sit down on the side, my back to her, and wait.

“This relationship with Matthew … I assume it’s a romantic one?”

“His name is Pax,” I can’t help mumbling.

She twists her head around and gives me a warning look. “Just answer the question, Nicole.”

Staring out the window, I suck in a breath. “Yes.”

My mom nods and digests this information. “What happened Friday night is certainly not forgotten. But we’re not going to try to forbid you from seeing him.”

“What?” My head whips around in surprise, and I angle my body back toward hers. “Why?”

My mom doesn’t say anything for a few minutes, anxiously spinning her engagement ring and staring at her lap. “Something occurred to me yesterday morning. It’s October now.”

“And that means…?”

She lifts her head, and her eyes meet mine. They are tinged with unfamiliar uncertainty. “It means you are going to be eighteen years old at the end of this month. When that happens, the reality is, you will no longer be under any obligation to stay here. If we don’t get this on the right track…”

I can’t help rolling my eyes. “It’s hardly like I’m going to run off and marry Pax or something.”

“I know that. All the same … it was a wake-up call for me. As were other things.” My mom pauses again. “Matthew … he was rather compelling. Sort of charming with his … candor.”

I’m shocked as hell that she’s capable of recognizing and admitting this, and I can’t think of a single thing to say.

“His little speech on Saturday—well, it got to me. Look at me, Nikki.” I look her in the eye and wait. “I’d be lying if I sat here and told you that right now I’m able to forgive you for what happened this past year.

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