“Bailey, sweetheart. I know you love listening to my old music, but do you need to play it so loud? The house is trembling. How can you girls even hear yourselves think?” She was rubbing her temples as she turned to face Indie and me sitting on the floor in front of the mirror playing with my curling iron and hair straightener.
“We don’t need to think, Mrs. M. We are going to a party. We just have to look good,” Indie replied, smiling brightly.
“I know. That’s why I’m up here. Do you need a lift to the party?”
“No, thanks. We’ve got a ride,” I replied, curling the last tendril of hair so that I had long waves cascading down my back.
“Oh good. Is Ryder picking you up?” she asked, failing to hide her smile.
“Yes.” I nodded and lifted my hair, scrunching it into a bun on top of my head while looking in the mirror to see whether it would look better up.
“Things seem to be going well between you,” she commented. “Hair up, sweetheart,” she added, nodding in my direction.
“Ah yeah, things are great. Thanks.”
Indie scoffed and turned her attention back to her hair when I glared at her.
“What, Indie?” my mother asked, amusement tainting her voice.
“Things aren’t just perfect. They are totally in love with each other but don’t realise it.” Indie giggled while I grabbed an elastic and some bobby pins to secure my messy bun in place.
“There.” I smiled, satisfied with how it looked before turning to Indie.
“We are not.”
“I didn’t know things were that serious between you guys.” My mother looked at me with a small frown. “I thought you’d only just started dating.” Confusion replaced her frown while I tried to think of something to say that wouldn’t give away the fact we weren’t even in a relationship.
“Ah well. They have, but it’s been a long time coming. They’ve been hanging out as friends, and I’m just teasing her, Mrs. M. I’m just happy she’s finally over Chace.” Indie stepped in, realising that my mother knew nothing. I smiled gratefully at her.
“Speaking of Chace,” I said, “we need to finish getting ready for his party or Ryder will be waiting forever.”
“Ryder’s not here yet.” Indie looked at me like I was crazy.
“Yes, he is.” I smiled, and right on cue, the doorbell rang. Both Indie and my mother looked at me questioningly.
“I heard his car.” I shrugged and added a swipe of mascara to my kohl-lined eyes.
“I’ll get it,” Indie announced, jumping up from her position on the floor beside me and bouncing out of the room.
“You’re going to a party at Chace’s house?” my mother asked as soon as Indie could be heard running down the stairs. “Is that wise?”
“It’s just a party. He has one every year. The whole senior class will be there. It’s fine. I’m over him.” I stood and walked over to her, placing my hands on her shoulders.
“So why are you going?” she asked.
“I promised to introduce Indie to a friend of Ryder’s,” I said before picking up my bright orange skirt and black sleeveless shirt. “I need to get dressed now, though,” I told my mother so she would leave.
“Okay, I’ll wait downstairs with Ryder and send Indie back up. Just be careful tonight, all right?” She kissed my forehead and left me to get dressed. I was just tucking my shirt into the high waist of my skirt when Indie fell through the door.
“What did you do?” I laughed at her.
“I fell. I was running too fast and miscalculated the distance it would take me to stop.” She laughed and pulled her shirt off over her head so she could put on her party outfit too. “You need a belt,” she told me as she slid her shorts on. I grabbed a thick black belt with a large silver buckle from my closet and secured it around my waist before pushing my new cut-out black ankle boots on. I turned to see Indie pulling her oversized knitted sweater on. As soon as her shoes were on, we were ready to go.
I started feeling nervous as we descended the stairs. When I left Ryder’s on my birthday, things were a little strained. I felt like there was so much we’d left unresolved. I’d come home more confused than before. I still didn’t know what he was thinking or feeling or if he felt anything like Indie believed. But he knew about my birthday, and each time we kissed, he would stop it, making up some excuse about not wanting me to be one of those girls. But then it would only last a short while before we would begin making out again. I guess I’d just have to wait and see how things panned out.
We stepped into the living room, where my mother was happily chatting away to Ryder. They were laughing at something, but both suddenly became quiet when they realised we were there. Ryder’s mouth popped open, and his eyes went wide as my mother rushed over to us.
“Oh girls, you look lovely. I love the new outfits. Perfect for your party.”
“Thanks, Mrs. M.” Indie grinned and did a little spin that I barely noticed because I was too focused on Ryder, who was walking slowly toward me in his skinny jeans and button-up white shirt that was only buttoned halfway, revealing his toned chest. He was pinching his bottom lip between his fingers while his eyes travelled up and down my body. So hot.
“You look beautiful, Bailey,” he whispered when he stopped in front of me, grasping my hip with one hand and pressing a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth. That action alone, which he had done numerous times before, made my knees go weak, and I stumbled slightly. A movement that did not go unnoticed by anyone in the room. Avoiding their gazes and smirks, I put my head down. I could feel a blush creeping onto my cheeks.
“Ready?” Ryder asked, taking my hand in his and smiling at my charm bracelet when I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. My mother’s eyes flickered to our joined hands for a minute before a grin spread across her face.
“Have fun, you three,” she said as she walked us to the door.
“Bye, Mrs. M. Don’t wait up.” Indie winked.
“Bye, Mrs. Mitchell.” Ryder smiled at her. I could have sworn I saw her swoon before she pulled me away from his grasp so she could whisper in my ear.
“Be safe, sweetheart.” She discreetly nodded in Ryder’s direction and wiggled her eyebrows at me. My eyes widened, and my mouth dropped open in shock when I realised the meaning of her words. I mean, I knew she was relaxed with rules and stuff but…
“What? No, not even…it’s not…” I shook my head at her, still surprised by what she had said. “Just no.”
“Oh, well, I’m happy you’re taking it slow but really? How much longer can you resist that?” She tried hiding her smile behind her hand as she shrugged at me. I glanced at Ryder, who was waiting on the bottom step for me. I hoped he couldn’t hear what she was saying.
“Oh my God!” I slapped my forehead. “I can’t believe you said that.” I started laughing at how incredibly abnormal my mother was. How many other girl’s parents would imply their teenage daughters should be having sex with their pierced and tattooed boyfriends? None. That’s how many. There was something wrong with my mother. I would need to have a chat with her.