Free Popcorn Love by KL Hughes Page B

near-perfect
attendance and a perfect grade in that class. It was worth a shot,
but that didn’t stop Allison’s chest from aching with guilt.
    “I hope it works out for you.” Her voice was sincere
and even tinged with a bit of sadness and that, for some reason,
made Allison feel the slightest bit better.
    “Thanks.” Allison ran a hand through her ratty hair
and hissed as her fingers snagged in several tangles. This was
really not her morning. “So, what’s up?”
    “Right, yes.” Elena cleared her throat. “I was
calling to inquire if you might be free this evening. I apologize
for the last-minute call, Allison. Vivian only just sprung this on
me. I was hoping an early call might make the difference.”
    Allison propped her phone up against her ear with her
shoulder. “It’s fine. You don’t have to keep apologizing, Elena.
I’m pretty much free all the time, so, yeah, I can come over
tonight.”
    Elena sighed. “Excellent. I greatly appreciate
it.”
    “No problem. What time should I be there?”
    “Would six be acceptable?”
    “Yup, six is good. I’ll see ya then.”
    “Okay, wonderful. See you then.”
    With a groan, Allison hung up the call and forced
herself off the bench to head back to her dorm room. At least her
day had just gotten a lot better.
     
    * * *
     
    Elena was just slipping into her dress when Lucas
shuffled into her bedroom. Cheeks red, he stared at the floor as he
quietly said, “Momma.”
    Her lips tugged with a frown when she saw his head
ducked down and his body slowly swaying from side to side. He
always stood like that when he was guilty of something.
    “Lucas,” Elena said. “What is it?”
    He didn’t say a word as he moved his hands out of the
way and Elena was able to see the large wet spot on the front of
his pants. She frowned as she walked over to her son and kneeled in
front of him. “Did you have an accident, munchkin?”
    His wide expressive eyes shot up as he quickly shook
his head back and forth in adamant denial.
    “Lucas.” Elena ran a hand through his hair and then
tapped her index finger gently against his nose. “It’s okay if you
had an accident. You can tell me.”
    “I didn’t!” His voice turned into a high-pitched
squeal. “Swear!”
    “Well then why are your pants wet?”
    Ducking his head down again, he whispered, “I spilled
my juice.”
    Elena slipped her index finger under his chin and
pulled his head up so that she could look him in the eyes. “That’s
okay, baby.”
    “Really?” he asked, shuffling a little closer to
her.
    She pursed her lips as she pretended to think about
it. “I will tell you what. If you give me a super special kiss and
hug, then it is definitely okay.”
    A massive grin stretched Lucas’s lips and he giggled
as he threw his arms around Elena’s neck and pressed a big,
smacking kiss half on her cheek and half on her nose. Elena
squeezed him and planted a dozen little kisses all over his face,
causing him to squeal and squirm, but he never actually tried to
escape.
    “Okay, munchkin, let’s get you some new pants before
Allison gets here.”
    “Alson!” Lucas sprinted down the hallway toward his
room. Elena made to follow him, but she only managed a few steps
down the hall when the doorbell sounded.
    “I will be right there, Lucas.”
    She passed Lucas’s room and made her way toward the
front of the house instead.
     
    * * *
     
    Allison was standing at the door, gaping at Elena
with a dark blonde eyebrow rising in question. “Um…”
    “What?” Elena frowned. “Is something wrong?”
    “Running late? Or are you just happy to see me?”
    Elena just stared at her, blinking. “What are you
talking about?”
    Blushing, Allison pointed at Elena and muttered,
“Your dress is uh…it’s open.”
    Glancing down, Elena was greeted by the sight of her
dress hanging loosely on one side, making her bra clearly visible.
Her own face flushed as she cleared her throat. “Right, yes…well.
Children can