Page 27 of Love in Development

That hadn’t been the response I’d expected.Maybe he didn’t believe me.Or maybe he just didn’t care.

ScarlettSaber: No.

IvoryKnight: But you watch the cartoon movies anyway?

ScarlettSaber: Thats an old one.You wont catch me out with that.

I watched the “...”move up and down in a wave as IK typed.It was dinnertime, and Mom would be home any minute.But the promise of more words kept me glued to my chair.

IvoryKnight: Dont give up on people just because things are hard.

It was starting to feel awkward.I wasn’t ready to get any more personal right now.But we clicked, and I wondered if it could be something more.

My heart jumped in my chest as Mom slammed into the room.Her face was a storm cloud.Was she mad that I hadn’t made dinner, or had she been talking to Dad again?

ScarlettSaber: Ive got to go.

I logged off before he could respond.

“He hung up.Your dad.One call from the little woman and he hung up on me.Can you believe it?”

I really could.It was a timely reminder that relationships weren’t permanent.Education was something that no one could take away from me.

“We didn’t finish finalizing your Christmas with him.Never trust a man to keep his promises.”Mom shook her head and wrapped me in a big side hug—warm, strong arms and a gentle cloud of lavender.

The chill receded.“Let’s go heat up some enchilada casserole.”

“And decorate for Christmas.I can’t believe there’s less than a week left.Help me with these things I bought for the apartment,” Mom said.

Chapter 8

Several days later, on the eve of Christmas Eve, Lin opened her garage for me as I biked up, backpack over my shoulders.She’d complimented me on at least touching base with her before bolting from the play.I was growing.Go me.I parked my sorry excuse for a bike between her mom’s SUV and her dad’s eye-candy sports car.Lin’s car was in the third spot, but the luxury car her dad usually drove was gone.It looked like our sleepover wouldn’t be interrupted by adults.

Lin’s family kept a shelf next to the door for visitors to exchange their outdoor shoes for indoor slippers.I slid into the familiar pair reserved for me.Lin and Charisse met me on the other side of the door, opening it as I reached for the handle.

The house had obviously been decorated professionally for the holidays.No one had time to do that much decorating.A tall, slim tree snuggled up to the piano in the foyer.Presents, perfectly wrapped, waited underneath.Lin reached for two, then pressed them into our hands.