“Hello?” His face is impassive now, his tone polite but curt. “Yes, ma’am. She’s right here.” With a shuttered expression, his eyes flick to mine, and he hands me his phone. “It’s for you.”
Cautiously, I accept it from him and glance at the screen only to have every fiber inside me tense in alarm.
Does she have some odd sort of radar? And why is my mother callin’ Hollis? I didn’t even realize she had his number.
“Hello?” I say warily.
“Magnolia Mae Barton! Young lady, are you tryin’ to send me to an early grave? I’ve been tryin’ to get a hold of you for hours and hours now. Why, I was about to call the local police and file a missin’ person’s report.”
Always dramatic, that’s my mother.
“I’m sorry, Mother.” I wince, realizing I put my phone on silent in case Preston tried to call me. I’d never bothered to check it, not wanting to deal with everything last night.
I unzip my wristlet and withdraw my phone, horrified to see just shy of one hundred missed calls. A fraction of that horrified feeling breaks off into fury when I see how many of them are from Preston.
It’s only exacerbated by my mother’s next words.
“Preston was worried sick about you and called to let us know y’all had a little spat. He said you ran off.” When she tacks on, “With that Hollis boy,” her nasty snarl is unmistakable.
“My word, Magnolia! You really must find a way to break ties with him. He’s comin’ between you and Preston, and that just won’t do.” She sighs, and her tone turns into something that sounds almost dreamy. “Preston is such a nice young man. And he comes from a wonderful family.”
“Do you know what he did over spring break?” I challenge.
She sighs. “Now, Magnolia.” Her condescending tone is much like the one she used when I was a small child. “You know how men can sometimes be when they get together and there’s alcohol involved.”
At her at-the-ready excuse for him—for all men who cheat, really—my lips flatten in anger. “So, if it were Roy, it would be acceptable?” My question comes out far sharper than I intended, but I can’t help it.
“You watch your tone with me, young lady,” she warns. But she doesn’t answer my question.
“Now, you listen here.” She barely takes a breath before starting in again. “Roy and I have discussed this, and you and Preston will mend the relationship. There’s too much at stake right now. Stop being so selfish and get over this little hissy fit.”
Too much at stake? My eyes fall closed as the realization hits me. Without opening my eyes, I reach up to pinch the bridge of my nose, the sign of an impending headache already beginning to throb at my temples.
“Too much is at stake, meanin’ Preston’s father and Roy have some sort of agreement,” I state dully.
I don’t bother to phrase it as a question. I should’ve known. Heck, I should know by now how things work. Nothing in my life is truly mine.
I was the idiot who introduced him to them. This is my fault.
“Preston’s ready to make amends. He feels just awful about the way everythin’ played out. He was on his way to you this mornin’ to apologize.”
Right. And how much of the apology was based on him actually wanting to and not these adults playing puppet master?
“I need to go.” I hate how defeated I sound, but I’ve been backed into a corner.
“Do the right thing, Magnolia.”
My mother’s final words aren’t I love you or I miss you, sweetie. I may no longer be a child, but even though I know I’ll never have one of those mothers who hugs you like she never wants to let go, wants to know about exciting things that happen in your life and celebrate them, and who doesn’t try to stifle who you are but helps you shine even if you have countless imperfections and idiosyncrasies, I still yearn for it.
She doesn’t wait for me to respond before she ends the call. Wearily, I open my eyes and hand the phone back to Hollis.
“Sorry about that.”
“No need to apologize.” He studies me carefully. “You okay?”
I take a step back and force myself to look him in the eyes. “I owe you an apology for last night.” When he starts to protest, I hold up a hand to stop him. “That was inappropriate on so many levels. You mean the world to me, Hollis.” My voice cracks on the first syllable of his name, and I press my lips thin to battle against my turbulent emotions. “I can’t bear the idea of ruinin’ our friendship, and I promise to never put you in that position again.”
His stare is heavy, expression indecipherable. “What’d your mom say?”
I swallow hard past the lump in my throat and let out a derisive laugh. “Apparently, they have an agreement with Preston’s father and have coordinated us gettin’ back together.”
Jaw clenched, his nostrils flare before he turns his gaze to the ceiling and grips the back of his neck with his hand. I reckon he doesn’t want me to get involved with Preston again. Especially after what went on last night.
Lord knows I feel the same way.
I force myself to ask, “Are we okay?” Please say we are, please say we are, I internally beg.
Hollis drops his hand and studies me for a moment before giving a quick nod. He must notice the mix of frustration and anguish on my face because his features soften, and he stands and opens his arms for me.
As soon as I step into his embrace, I’m engulfed by a sense of comfort, setting me at ease the way only he can. I know it’s a brief reprieve, but I accept it wholeheartedly.
“We’re always okay, Shortcake.” His voice contains a tinge of huskiness, and he presses a light kiss to the top of my head.
In the recesses of my mind, I can’t help but wonder if we really are.
Hollis
FINALS WEEK
May
I’m confident about how I’ve done so far on my final exams, even if my heart wasn’t really in it.
Dad wants me to be the first college grad in the family, but I feel like I’m wasting the partial scholarship and racking up student loan debt for nothing. I still don’t have a clue what I want to major in, let alone do with my life. I picked business because of his suggestion, but I can’t say I’ve ever had wet dreams about opening up my own place or anything.
With just one more exam left to take in an hour, it’s hard to believe I’ll soon have one full year of college in the books.
Mr. Ted offered me a summer job, helping him in his shop, doing some of the body work. He said he knew of a cheap place for rent, but I haven’t made up my mind. I miss Dad, but with the long hours he works, it would mean being around Mom more, and I’m not sure the country club can give me enough hours to get me out of the house. Regardless, I still want to head home and spend some time with him.
I’ve packed up the bulk of my stuff from the dorm and stowed it in my truck. I plan to hightail it home right after my last final. I toss a few last-minute things into my large plastic laundry bin I’m now using as a catch-all just as my phone vibrates on my desk next to my wallet and keys. I wonder if it’s Magnolia wishing me luck on my last final.