Trouble Never Sleeps by Stephanie Tromly

Author:Stephanie Tromly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2018-04-24T00:00:00+00:00

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• • •

Mom didn’t even wait for me to get my shoes off before she laid into me. “Are you having sex? Helen Breslauer says she saw you two having sex in your room. Because I took Digby at his word when he said you weren’t.” Before I could answer, Mom started up again. “Then again, that might’ve been true yesterday and one day’s practically a lifetime for a teena—”

“Mom. Stop. No,” I said. “Still lousy with virginity, okay?”

My mother, being so drama, made me watch her do one of her breathing exercises before she said, “Then please put your bra back on.”

I hadn’t even realized that Digby had unclasped it.

Once I’d done it back up, Mom said, “I think it’s time to talk.”

“No, it’s okay, Mom. I know the facts,” I said.

“Do you?” she said. “What do you know about Digby’s sexual partners—”

That came too close to the fight I’d just had with Digby. “That’s really between him and me,” I said.

“Just a few days ago, you were digging around in the garbage, hysterical about who I might or might not be sleeping with, and now you’re going to look me in the eye and pretend you think sex is just about the two people having it?” Mom said. “This is not you versus me. Don’t start lying to me, Zoe. You don’t have to damage our relationship to develop your relationship with Digby.”

I wanted to smart-mouth something about her making everything all about her but actually, I could see the sense in what she’d said.

“Plus, I need to do this so if I end up becoming the youngest grandmother in my Facebook group, I can at least honestly say I tried,” Mom said.

Mom poured us coffee and we moved into the living room. The nightmare began with her uttering the line, “Zoe, sperm are sneaky. They are like Spartans. They only need to send one—”

I said, “Mom. I know how it works—”

“STDs, condoms . . . do you want to go on the pill?” she said.

“No, Mom—”

“Do you know what to do if you have an accident?” she said. “Do you know that you should check for yourself if he’s put it on right—”

“Mother,” I said. “I am able to go on the Internet.”

“Fine. Then we can skip ahead to part two.” Mom put her coffee down and put her hands on my shoulders. “Feelings.”

“Oh, no,” I said. “Mom. I think we know what our feelings are.”

“But have you thought about how you’re going to feel after the sex? Some people enjoy sex without commitment. Is that what he wants?” And then a thought occurred to her. “Or is that what you want since you might be leaving this summer?”

I shook my head but I did wonder.

“Hm.” Mom laughed. “Maybe I should have asked you what your intentions are.”

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