Asking for Trouble

Free Asking for Trouble by Anna J. Stewart

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Authors: Anna J. Stewart
want. I want that girl at my party.”
    â€œIt’s Stephen’s party, and believe it or not I was working the other night. Meeting Morgan was business.”
    â€œBest job you’ve ever had, then. I’ve never seen that look on your face at the office.”
    There was no arguing with her. Especially since he knew she was right. “We can’t keep doing this, you hounding me about my personal life. Please.” There was a long silence, and for a moment he thought the phone had gone dead. “Mom.”
    â€œBring her to the party and I will.”
    Oh, dear heaven. Gage frowned as a new set of alarm bells went off. “Wait. You’ll what? Back off? What exactly does ‘I will’ mean?”
    â€œIt means.” He knew that “I’m serious” tone and embraced the possibilities. “Bring Morgan Tremayne with you and I’ll stop pestering you about getting married. I won’t mention grandchildren. To you.”
    â€œFor how long exactly?” He wanted details. Exact details. Carved in stone.
    â€œTwo weeks.”
    â€œSix months.” He sensed freedom in his grasp.
    â€œTwo months.”
    â€œThree and I’ll come for dinner once a month.” Desperation made a man do odd things.
    â€œOnce a week.”
    â€œDeal.” He scrubbed at his eyes. Something told him she’d made out better than she expected and he’d just gotten screwed. “Am I going to need this in writing?”
    â€œYour father will keep you honest.”
    Yeah, that’s what he was worried about. “I’ll see you next Sunday, Mom. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
    â€œI love you, Gage.”
    â€œLove you, too.” He hung up the phone, sat down on the stool beside the workbench, and banged his head on the table. Then he popped up. Shit.
    He’d traded one problem for another. How the hell was he going to convince Morgan to attend a family party with him? And then he remembered.
    Gage slid open the bottom drawer of his workbench. He tapped a finger against his lips and grinned. What was it his sister Liza always said?
    A woman could never say no to a pair of fabulous shoes.

Chapter Five
    â€œYou knew the rules from day one, Drew. Ditching school is unacceptable.” Morgan shoved the washing machine in place, praying the new water hose would solve the leak issue. Not a good start to her over-scheduled Wednesday. “The answer is no. No movies. No basketball game. You’re grounded for two weeks. Kelley. Brandon. Angela’s waiting in the car.”
    â€œIt was only gym and it was last period.” Anger radiated off sixteen-year-old Drew in waves and Morgan steadied herself to ride the surf.
    â€œDon’t care. Ditching is ditching. You have responsibilities, beginning with your education. You don’t like the agreement you made when you came to live with us, you know your options.” Since those other options were limited to an extended stay in the juvenile detention center, Morgan considered the topic closed. “You’re going to be late for homeroom if you don’t leave now.”
    â€œThis sucks,” Drew blasted, and for the hundredth time Morgan had to bite her tongue to suggest he get a haircut. She hadn’t seen Drew’s eyes in weeks, covered as they were with the too-long sandy brown bangs. His baggy jeans and T-shirts reminded Morgan of a Woodstock documentary reject and made her feel old for complaining about the clothes these young people wore today. More importantly, his attire made it difficult to see if he was maintaining his weight, or if he was showing signs of jaundice, something he’d been dealing with on and off due to the damage the undiagnosed diabetes had done to his organs.
    What she wouldn’t give to take that black leather jacket that never left his sight to the cleaners for an extended visit.
    â€œI suggest you remember just how much this sucks the next time

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