Young Love (Bloomfield #4) by Janelle Stalder

then xoxox
     
    I placed the phone back down on the table, my eyes falling on our empty plates sitting beside each other. It occurred to me then that I’d never cooked dinner for Kelly before, or just chilled out and watched TV like this. I shook my head. This shit was too confusing for me. I liked to keep things simple, and that was what I would continue to do. There was no overthinking this evening, or anything else that had to do with Honor Jacobs.
    Getting up, I dropped both plates in the sink and headed out. I’d clean-up later.

Chapter 11
     
    Honor
     
    I stopped just outside the dance studio, my arms on my hips.
    “You can’t pick me up every Friday night you know,” I said.
    Perrie smiled. “Says who?”
    I shook my head with a sigh, walking over to her car and getting in the passenger side. “I’ll feel bad if you keep this up,” I told her.
    “Don’t. We’re family, we’re supposed to do things for each other. Plus, I wanted to share some exciting news with you.”
    I twisted in my seat so I could look at her better. “Oh? Do tell.”
    “I got that internship I told you about,” she said, her excitement practically vibrating off her.
    “No way! I thought you said they never take first year law students?”
    “They don’t. That’s why it’s so amazing.”
    “Wow,” I said, leaning back against the seat. “That’s really awesome, Perrie. I’m so happy for you.”
    “I knew you would be,” she said, glancing away from the road to smile at me quickly. “So, you see? I had to come and share the news in person. Not to mention I don’t want my hot, young cousin riding a bus alone at this time of the night.”
    I opened my mouth to argue, but she held up her hand.
    “You’re forgetting I’m about to be the best defense attorney this city has ever seen. I know all about criminals.”
    “Right,” I muttered. “So what was the firm called again? It’s the big one downtown, right?”
    “Hamilton and Gordon. And yes, it’s the biggest firm around. And I’ll be the youngest intern they’ve ever accepted.”
    “Amazing. Auntie Grace must be freaking.”
    Perrie chuckled. “Mom wants to take me out for a steak dinner tomorrow night to celebrate. She said we were going to go somewhere fancy.”
    “So, Kelsey’s?”
    We both laughed.
    “Probably. The woman wouldn’t know fancy if it walked into her leopard printed room, and smacked her upside the head.”
    “Your mom’s fashion and decor sense is the best.”
    “You can only say that because she’s not your mom. It was embarrassing when she’d show up on parent teacher night dressed in a huge leopard printed fake fur jacket,” she said, her face scrunching up. “I remember Jack Tellsman asking me if my mom was a hooker.”
    I chuckled. “I remember. You punched him right in the nose and got detention for a week.”
    She snorted. “He deserved it. And Mom grounded me for two weeks because I wouldn’t tell her why I did it.”
    I reached over and squeezed her hand. “Auntie Grace is lucky to have you as a daughter.”
    She squeezed mine back, sitting up straighter. “Don’t I know it.”
    We pulled up to my building, Perrie stopping just in front of the entrance.
    “Speaking of our crazy mothers,” she said, putting the car in park and turning to me. “They wanted me to tell you that they demand you come for brunch on Sunday. Your mom says you haven’t been calling her either. I think she’s close to storming down here and banging on your door.”
    I grimaced. “Tell them I’ll be there.”
    All I could picture was my mom waltzing into my building in her fluffy slippers and pink bathrobe. She might not have a love for animal print like Perrie’s mom, but that didn’t mean her fashion sense was any better.
    “I will contain her until then,” Perrie said.
    “Thanks. I appreciate it. See you Sunday.”
    “Love you, cuz,” she called out as I walked up to the doors.
    “Love you too!”
     
    ***
     
    I let out a