Free Bending Under Pressure by Lindsay Paige Page B

part and I taste his tongue, I forget how to think, how to breathe, and oh my God! I’m making out with Keelan Moore!
    All of a sudden, I’m too aware of our breathing, his mouth, his hand, and how his knee is touching mine now. Dizzy at his kiss, the arm holding me up collapses, and I’m lying flat on my back. Holy cow, his torso is on my torso and I think I’m going to pass out soon.
    “Haley! Who is here with you?”
    Keelan jumps back and sits up at the sound of my mom shouting from down the hall. I sit up, my lips feeling swollen, and try not to laugh as Keelan scoots to the other end of the bed.
    “A friend,” I answer as she appears at my bedroom door.
    She frowns when she sees us.
    “Hey, Mrs.—” Keelan falters, realizing he doesn’t know my mom’s new last name.
    “Mrs. Rita is fine,” she tells him with narrowed eyes, and I have to refrain from rolling my eyes. “What have you two been doing in here?”
    It’s not like I can say we were watching TV because it’s turned off.
    “Talking,” Keelan answers for me. “I had a rough day, met my birth mom and all, and Hales was letting me get it off my chest before I have to go home and answer my mom’s bazillion questions.”
    Mom’s eyes widen, not expecting Keelan to give her so much info. “Oh.” She seems at loss for words and I want to laugh. “Well, that was nice of you, Haley.” She regains her parenting look, where she seems composed and authoritative. “However, it’s getting late and you should probably head home, Keelan.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “I’ll walk you out.” We stand and Mom lets us pass her. When we’re safely away from their ears, I say, “You didn’t have to tell her all of that.”
    Keelan grins. “No, but I’ve learned if you drop something major like that, they usually believe you and don’t ask many more questions because it throws them off.”
    “Did you want to talk about it? Your birth mom, I mean?”
    He shrugs. “She wants me to get to know her and the rest of my family. I apparently have a sister and an aunt. I don’t know what I want to do though. Something doesn’t feel right about it.”
    “Wow. That’s a lot to take in.”
    He nods. The porch light flashes behind me, and I shake my head. “I should go. Thanks, Hales.” He leans in and kisses my cheek before opening his door. “Hey, if you want to talk about whatever’s going on with your dad, I’ll listen.”
    I’m surprised he doesn’t already know. “Your mom didn’t tell you anything?”
    He shakes his head. “No, she said you’d share whenever you’re ready. So, I’ll listen when you are if you want.”
    “Thanks, Keelan.”
    He finally leaves and I go inside to face my mom. Is she going to be mad? Suspicious? I have no clue what to expect. However, Mom knows exactly what she wants to say because she talks the moment I walk in.
    “What do you think you’re doing here by yourself with a boy? And in your bedroom! You are not allowed to have anyone over if we are not here, Haley.” She folds her arms over her chest from where she stands behind the couch and waits.
    “Okay, it won’t happen again. He needed someone to talk to, and I didn’t know where else we could go where he could have some privacy.” No need to put up a fight.
    Mom narrows her eyes at me. “Don’t think I bought that y’all were just talking either.”
    It’s as if she’s waiting for me to fess up. Ha. Not happening. I shrug. “Believe whatever you want, Mom. I’m going to do homework.”
    “No more boys in the house, Haley!” she calls after me as I walk past her.
    “Got it!” I’m glad she’s behind me now because she can’t see me rolling my eyes at her.

 
     
    “W ell?” I ask, having just recounted everything to my parents and Cameron. “What do you think?”
    “What do you want to do?” Mom asks.
    I shrug. “I want to know what you think.”
    “This is your decision.”
    “Mom! Please, just give me something here,” I