Free In It to Win It by Morgan Kearns

assumed it was for his actions—or lack thereof—in the locker room or in the parking lot or in the gym. It’d been weeks, yet the pain was still very raw.
    Nate had been supportive, mostly because he didn’t bring it up again—after the initial tirade that included an interesting variety of name calling. Jane had never realized that Nate had such an extensive vocabulary.
    Due to the change in plans, Jane had to make a phone call. She hit the ‘M’ on her speed-dial and waited.
    “ Hello?”
    “ Hey, Molls.”
    “ Hey. What’s up?”
    Jane regurgitated the events of the morning as Molly interrupted with phrases like, “Wow.” or “Seriously?” or “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
    When the story was over, Molly was stuck between a fit of giggles and utter silence. The sounds coming through the phone were muffled hiccups. Jane guessed she would have reacted the same way if the roles had been reversed. Wearing the shoes, the scenario wasn’t a bit funny, but from Molly’s moccasins … yeah, it was frickin’ hysterical.
    “ No problem, girlfriend,” Molly said. “I’ll see you at the station.”
    “ Thanks, Molls.”
    “ Hang in there.”
    Hang in there was right. Jane felt like she was dangling from a cliff by nothing but her fingernails … and was quickly losing her grip. Just like the old days. She went back upstairs and started the task of getting ready for work.
    As she showered, she visualized her feelings for Grayson washing down the drain with the soap bubbles. This was the end of the road for him. A person could only hurt her if she was willing to be hurt. She no longer was.
    She turned off the shower, dried off and began the transformation on the outside. She blew her light brown hair dry and tugged at it with the round brush until every strand was straight with a slight curl at the ends. She added a little extra concealer, then dabbed and blended her foundation. Her green eyes twinkled as she applied her eyeliner, eye shadow and mascara. She finished her make-up with some neutral colored lipstick then headed for the closet.
    Jane was just fastening her watch when her phone rang. The ringtone belonged to her mother. She debated letting the call go to voicemail but knew that Sheri Alexander was not going to leave Jane alone today.
    With phone in hand, she closed her eyes and tried to sound nonchalant. “Hi, Mom.”
    “ You’re dating Grayson Pierce?” The question was appalled accusation.
    “ No.”
    “ Go ahead, lie to your mother.”
    Jane’s eyes squeezed closed tighter in frustration. “Believe what you want, Mom, but I am not dating Grayson. It’s all—”
    “ He’s not the same boy you went to elementary school with, Janie. In case you don’t read the tabloids, he’s kind of a … a bad boy. And not in a good way. He likes his cars and his alcohol and his … floosies.”
    “ I know, Mom.”
    “ You, my darling daughter, are not a floozy. At least I didn’t think you were. But I guess if you don’t want to listen to me, go ahead and date him. Just don’t come crying to me when you end up with your heart broken. Because he will break your heart. Just like last time.” She took a moment to breathe. Jane heard the air get sucked in and blown out—right in her ear. An exaggeration of her mother’s frustration. “I swear don’t know how Maude deals with his exploits. I really don’t. It makes her look so bad.”
    Jane rolled her eyes. Maude Pierce loved her son and probably wasn’t a bit concerned with how his actions may or may not make her look. Yet another trait that Sheri Alexander and Maude Pierce didn’t share.
    The doorbell rang and Jane relaxed. Saved by the bell , she thought. “Hey Mom, that’s Nate. I have to go.”
    Another exaggerated sigh. “Okay, fine.” And then the line went dead.
    Jane opened the door. Nate was dressed in jeans and his heavy winter coat with the KHB logo over the upper right breast.
    “ You okay?” he asked. “You look a