Free Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout Page B

was strange seeing Dee like this, having such a…human reaction. “I think he probably feels the same.”
    “I don’t know. We were just friends and nothing more. We didn’t even want to go to homecoming together.” She was on her feet again. “But I’m not sure if he felt that way because of me and how I’d acted. Maybe he’s always felt more for me.”
    “Call him.” That was the best advice I could give, since I had no experience in any of this. “Wait. Did you guys use protection?”
    Dee rolled her eyes. “I’m so not ready for a baby Dee. We totally used protection.”
    Relief flooded me. She hung around a little longer then left to go call Adam. I was still shocked that Dee had sex. It was such a big step, even for…aliens. At least it was great. But to have sex just to find out if you liked someone? Where was the romance in that? Of course, who was I to judge? I asked one guy to go out, I was pretty sure, just to see if another noticed. Yeah, I was totally not the go-to person for relationship advice. Poor Dee.
    Mom woke up and we ordered pizza before she had to leave for work. While waiting, we chilled on the couch like we used to, before Dad died.
    Mom handed me a cup of steaming cocoa. “Don’t forget I have you all day Saturday until I go into work, so don’t make any plans.”
    I smiled, wrapping my hands around the warm cup. “I’m all yours.”
    “Good.” She threw her slipper-covered feet onto the coffee table. “I wanted to run something by you.”
    Taking a sip, I raised my brows.
    She crossed her ankles and then re-crossed them the other way. “Will wants to do dinner with us on Saturday, for you birthday.”
    “Oh.”
    A faint smile curved her lips. “I told him I wanted to check with you first and make sure you were okay with it.” She paused, crinkling her nose. “You are the birthday girl and all.”
    “I’ll only turn eighteen once, right?” I grinned. “It’s okay, Mom, we can do dinner with Will .”
    Her eyes narrowed.
    I took another drink of cocoa. “Should I dress up for this? Since he is a doctor and all. Oh! Are we going to a fancy dinner and will we talk politics and current events?”
    “Shush it.” She smiled, though, settling back. “I think you’ll like him. He’s not stuffy or overbearing. He’s really like…”
    My heart did a funny thing. “Like Dad?”
    Mom smiled sadly. “Yeah, like Dad.”
    Neither of us spoke for a few minutes. Mom had met Dad her first year of nursing residency at the hospital in Florida. He’d been a patient, having fallen off the deck and broken his foot, trying to impress some girl. But according to my dad, the moment he’d looked into Mom’s eyes, he couldn’t even remember the other girl’s name. They’d dated for six months, got engaged, and married within the year. I came shortly thereafter, and there hadn’t been two people more in love than them. Even when they’d argued, love fueled their words.
    I’d give anything to have that kind of relationship.
    I finished off the rest of my cocoa and wiggled closer to Mom. She lifted her slender arm and I snuggled in, inhaling the apple-scented body lotion she always wore during autumn. Mom had this habit of changing her perfumes and lotions with the seasons.
    “I’m happy you met him,” I said finally. “Will sounds like a really nice guy.”
    “He is.” She kissed the top of my head. “I like to think your father would approve.”
    Dad would approve of anyone who made Mom happy. I’d been there the day hospice had told us it wouldn’t be much longer. Standing outside their bedroom, I’d heard him tell Mom to love again. That was all he wanted.
    I closed my eyes. That kind of love should’ve been able to beat sickness. That kind of love should’ve conquered anything.

Chapter 8
     
    I readjusted the thin black straps for the third time and finally gave up. No matter how many times I tugged on it, the neckline of the dress wasn’t coming up any higher.