Prom King by Alexa Riley

Chapter Seven

Celeste

“Is there something you want to tell me?” Mom asks, following me into the house. I can’t hide my blush. Heck, who am I kidding? I can’t hide anything from her. It’s the downside to my mom being able to read people so easily.

She never talks much about her childhood and always avoids the subject if I bring it up. If I had to bet, I’m guessing she learned to read people at a young age. I don’t want to think about why she would have needed those skills as a child.

“Is there something you want to tell me?” I toss back at her as I open the front door to go inside. She’s all dolled up for a weekday afternoon, and her makeup and hair are done to perfection.

My lips still tingle from the kiss Apollo gave me. It was soft and sweet but somehow explosive too. I didn’t know kisses would feel that way. I wonder if they all are like that. He’d been so sweet to me all day, not only with taking care of me when I’d gotten hurt but also in gym class where I was sure I was going to make a fool of myself.

I guess I did, but at least it wasn't my fault. The way Apollo snapped at Amber in my defense felt good. It was nice having someone on my side because when I’m in school I'm an outsider. Everyone else has already formed their cliques or whatever you want to call them. Most have even known each other since kindergarten.

It also helped that he shut Amber down quickly and snagged me as his partner. Apollo is turning out a little too good to be true. Something has to give. I still kind of wonder what’s up with Amber and him from before. This could be some conquest thing. He gets one girl into bed then he’s on to the next… Gah! Why am I always trying to find the bad when it comes to boys? Oh yeah, because my mom taught me that.

“What?” Mom feigns innocence.

“I saw the SUV.” Is she already working people over? I’m not sure how I feel about that. It’s what she’s always done, and it’s never bothered me before. Why would now be any different? Mom always goes after people with money. She never sets out to con someone that is already down on their luck.

If anything, she would give them a handout. She really has this weird balance, like it’s some kind of Robin Hood complex. Rob from the rich and give to the poor. She always teases that she is leveling her karma out by giving back to people in need. I think she just has a soft heart under that hard exterior she’s built around herself. I’m the only one that gets to see that sweet, soft side of her. Most of the people she gives a handout to don’t even know it came from her.

“This one is too easy not to. The man is practically begging me to take his money.” She shrugs. “Besides, he’s so rich it won’t make a dent in his bank account. I could cover your college off this man.”

“Mom,” I sigh. “I don’t know if I’m going to college, and if I do, I can get loans.”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it then.”

We will. Somehow Mom always figures things out. The woman truly has a ton of talents. Still, there’s something off with her, but I can’t place it. I watch as she moves about the kitchen, having no clue what she’s doing. The woman can’t cook to save her life. Even my turkey sandwich today was terrible. How does someone mess up a sandwich?

“Aren’t you going to grill me?” I ask, because I thought for sure she’d be all over me.

This is the time where she would start her long list of warnings about teenage boys and all they want. She got pregnant with me when she was barely sixteen, and my father split. I don’t think her family helped her, either, which is why I’ve never met them. It’s always only been the two of us.

“Right.” She spins around with a rolling pin in her hand. Okay, this is getting weird. “Let’s talk about your nose first.”

“A ball in gym class.” I wiggle it.

“I figured. Do you want some ice or something?”

I shake my head. “It doesn't hurt anymore. The nurse and Apollo fixed me up.”

“Apollo?” Her eyebrows lift. “That’s the boy you were necking with?”

“Necking?” I snort a laugh. “Who says ‘necking’?”

“What are you kids calling it these days?”

“I don’t know. Making out?” I offer. “Wait, you don’t care?”

“Why would I care? I put you on birth control a year ago.”

My mouth falls open. “That was because my period was wonky.”

“Sure, honey. That’s why.” Her smile is patronizing, and she finally puts the rolling pin back.

“What are you even doing?”

“I was going to make dinner.”

“Like a frozen pizza?” I should take over. She can ruin a frozen pizza too. She uses the smoke alarm as a timer.

“Hey, I can cook,” she protests, putting her hands on her hips.

“Want to go to town and get something?” I ask, and she drops her hands.

“I suppose I can cook dinner another day.” She holds her chin up high as she leaves the kitchen. I fight a smile but lose. One way or another, my mom always manages to turn my mood around.

The rest of the school week flies by. Apollo and I have fallen into a routine where he picks me up each morning for school and takes me home at the end of the day. It’s silly because sometimes he’ll take me home only to rush back for rowing practice.

I tried over and over to tell him I can get a ride, but he wasn't hearing it. Even today he was trying to pick me up for the party that’s at his house. Since my mom and I were both invited, there was no need for him to drive here and then back. After some convincing, he finally relented.

He’s been trying to get me to have lunch with him. I don’t know why the lunchroom is such a scary place, but it feels like the lion’s den. The panic of not knowing where to sit or doing something to embarrass myself in front of half the school haunts me. I’m still sneaking out to the library to eat my packed lunch, but now Apollo shows up and pushes his food on to me.

It’s sweet. Actually everything he does is sweet. He hasn't kissed me again, but his eyes always drop to my mouth right before I get out of his car. He never makes a move for some reason, and I wonder if we’ve gone from maybe being something to just being friends. Had I been such a terrible kisser? I’d thought the kiss was perfect, except for the part when my mom showed up.

The only downside I’ve experienced with Apollo and me hanging out so much are the dirty looks I get from some of the other girls. He really has a lot of admirers. It can be a bit hard to deal with because it makes me question myself internally. It also makes me second-guess why he’s with me, even if we’re not together.

“Oh, love that dress on you.” Mom comes to stand behind me, and I smooth my dress with my hands.

It’s a creamy white with sunflowers all over it. The top has thick straps, and it fits tightly enough that I don’t have to wear a bra. It flares out at the waist, which I love because it hides some of my hips. I can be a bit self-conscious about that area, but the dress is really cute and falls a few inches above my knees. I paired it with some strappy sandals because I wanted to look nice. I know it’s a carnival theme, but I’m not sure if this is a date or if he invited me as a friend. This outfit felt safe and didn’t look like I was trying too hard.

“Yours isn’t too bad either.” I turn around and see she’s in a form-fitting dark purple velvet dress. It makes her eyes pop, and she looks sexy. It’s not something she usually wears, but she looks beautiful.

“I thought I would mix it up.”

I don’t know who she thinks she’s fooling, but I know something is up with her. She’s been odd all week. I don’t miss how she’s always keeping her phone close. I know the feeling because I do the same when I’m waiting for a text from Apollo. He’s always sending me messages first thing in the morning and before bed. Every time my phone chimes, excitement bubbles up inside of me.

“I suppose we should go,” I say because I’m ready to see Apollo. I’m so used to seeing him every morning at school, so with it being Saturday, I didn’t get my normal fix. I’m crushing on him way too hard. If he had any idea what I was thinking half the time, he’d be running for the hills.

It wasn't until last night that I put together that the party my mom was talking about us going to was the same one Apollo asked me to attend. It made sense when I thought back on it. Apollo had come into the coffee shop that day with the man who chased after my mom.

I tossed and turned all night after realizing it. The guy I’m falling for is the son of my mom’s next mark. I’m not sure how that will play out for me. I’m tempted to tell my mom to back off this one, but would that be me putting someone else in front of her? A guy, of all people.

“Let me grab my bag.” I watch as she tosses in her tarot cards, and my brows pull together.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea to bring those? I mean, if we’re staying here for a while, it might not be smart to do a con so early.” I give a small nudge to try and get her to back off.

“It’s going to be fine. I’ll give him a few readings and be done with it. He’ll never know it was all bullshit.” She shrugs like it’s not a big deal.

Guess we’re about to find out.