Labeled Love (28 page)

I CAN’T TELL
you how many missed calls I have. Shay couldn’t leave a voice message, because I never set it up, but that doesn’t matter. Her text messages came in loud and clear. It’s late or I would probably pick up the phone and call her. Instead, I lie on my bed and read her text messages.

Pretty Girl: Jace please pick up the phone.

Pretty Girl: Jace!

Pretty Girl: Baby, please!

Pretty Girl: I didn’t know he had my phone.

Pretty Girl: Please don’t be angry with me.

Pretty Girl: We will have to make today National Day of Mourning if you’re angry with me.

Pretty Girl: I love you!

There are more unread messages, but after I saw those last two, I stopped reading. Shay made me smile, and nothing else matters.

“DID YOU HEAR
they announced the Golden Globe nominees this morning?” Mom says, walking into my bedroom. “Beau will be presenting. Are you and Jules going shopping for her dress? I think she should go with something glittery, of course, but what do I know? Jules dresses better than I do.” She continues to ramble. “You know, she really has a fashion sense. I talked to her mother yesterday. I think we will do a brunch the morning of the awards, so Jules can eat well first thing, just in case she’s nervous. How exciting. Miss Golden Globe. I know Marla is thrilled. So, how about I call her, and we set up a time for us girls to go shopping? We can have lunch at The Ivy. You love their Caesar salad, right?” She waits for me to respond. “Shay? Are you even listening to me?”

I pull the covers over my head. “Why are you in my room so early? Did you drink a gallon of coffee?”

“No. Actually, I haven’t been drinking as much lately. It bothers my stomach. Why are you covering your face?” She tries to pull the covers back.

“Let me sleep a little bit longer. Then we can talk Golden Globes.”

“What’s wrong? Your voice sounds hoarse. Are you sick?”

“No.”

“Take the covers off your head, Shay.” I take a deep breath and exhale loudly, letting my warm breath surround me. When I pull back the covers, my mom is staring at me.

“You sure you’re not sick? You look like you haven’t slept all night, and your eyes are puffy.” I look at her, trying to will the tears away that I know are forming. She sees right through me. “What’s wrong?”

I muster up my hoarse voice, trying to be funny so I don’t break down in tears. “Can anyone make a national holiday?”

She gives me a perplexed look. “What do you mean?”

“Well, who decides to make certain days important?”

“Why the sudden interest?” she asks, wiping away the tear on my cheek that betrayed me.

“Jace and I… Well, I think we had our first fight last night, so I need to find out how to register yesterday as National Day of Mourning.”

Softening her face, she probably wants to laugh, but I know she won’t. “We could look into it, if you think it’s that serious. I know there were plenty of times I could have used a day of mourning when your father and I had our differences.”

“You and Dad never fight.”

“Oh, don’t let your dad’s charming smile fool you. Plenty of days he had his tail between his legs begging for forgiveness.”

“I’m the one that should have my tail between my legs. Jace didn’t do anything wrong. I did.”

“What did you do?”

“Really I didn’t do anything. Cole’s the one who caused the ruckus.”

“Cole?”

“After I got home from guitar yesterday, and you were gone, Jules and I lay by the pool. Cole and Brett showed up. We had a good time, and we played around in the pool like when we were kids.”

“That’s nice. You’ve been friends for so long.”

“Yeah, well, Cole took it upon himself when I was in the pool to answer my texts from Jace, and he wasn’t nice about it. He teased Jace about being from the other side of the tracks, saying he was spending time with me, and Jace wasn’t.”

“Oh, that’s mean,” she says, picking the lint off my comforter. “What did Jace say when you talked to him?”

“We haven’t spoken about it.”

“Why?”

“He won’t answer my calls or texts.”

“Well, I wouldn’t get your feathers ruffled, drama queen. Jace just needs to cool off. I’m sure he was really angry that Cole took your phone and jealous because he knew you were in one of those cute bikinis around another guy.”

“That’s the thing, Mom. Jace doesn’t have to worry about me. I know you’re going to tell me I’m too young, and I don’t know love yet, but I truly love that boy.”

“I don’t have any doubts that your feelings are real. I fell for your dad when I was just a few years older than you. I’ve seen you with Jace, and more importantly, I know he loves you, Shay. You do have obstacles, though. You always have, but I believe one day you won’t.”

“You think so?”

She kisses me on the nose. “I know so. Believe me, your dad and I had obstacles.” She shakes her head with a smile.

“So, Dad was a bad boy, huh? Not that Jace is a bad boy because he’s not.”

“No, I know Jace is not a bad boy, but your dad had a little wild in him.”

“Oh, do tell.” She gets up and sashays out of my room. “Nope. Not telling. Your dad is perfect.”

I can hear her laugh all the way down the hall.

HOURS PASS WITH
no word from Jace, but Jules comes over. “Did you see how Cole was looking at you yesterday? Are you going to tell Jace about him coming over?” She sits beside me on the bed.

“I didn’t have to tell him. Cole did.”

She scrunches her perfectly waxed eyebrows together. “How did Cole talk to Jace?”

“Yesterday, when we were lounging in the pool, Cole took it upon himself to answer my text messages from Jace.”

“Oh snap!” Her eyes practically bug out of her head as she throws her hands over her mouth. “You’ve got to be kidding me?”

“Nope.”

“That’s what Cole meant about you passing on
Gossip Girl
to do damage control. What an ass.”

“What did Jace say when you talked to him?”

“I haven’t talked to him.”

“Really?”

“I tried calling him and messaging him numerous times yesterday after I saw what Cole did, but he hasn’t responded.”

“This is like a national crisis!”

“That’s what I told my mom.” I lean back on my bed. “It was just swimming, Jules,” I murmur.

“I know. It’s not like you invited Cole. He and Brett just sort of showed up.” I let out an exasperated sigh. “I would be going crazy if my boyfriend didn’t answer my calls.”

“You don’t have a boyfriend, Jules.”

“I know. I’m just saying if I did…” She laughs.

“I’m sure he’s just upset, but we’ve never had a fight.”

“Seriously, Shay. That’s not normal.”

“Yeah, well, nothing about our relationship has been normal.”

“Come on, let’s go get ice cream. My treat,” Jules says. We walk out of my room hand in hand when she stops dead in her tracks. “Oh God, I hope this isn’t a sign that we will be ice cream eating girls discussing our boy problems when we’re older. I have to be able to fit into designer dresses.”

I give her a pointed look. “What? Designer dresses are made for twigs. You’re far from a twig, Jules.”

“I know, right? Guys love a big ass, and I have plenty of junk in my trunk.” I smack her butt hard. “That hurt,” she yelps, totally reminding me of Jace. I really wish he would call me back. I’m going crazy over here.

AFTER A SLEEPLESS
night trying to rid my restless thoughts, I got up early and went to the garage to work on my bike. I have to get it working, and I’m almost there. I only need one more part, and it’s up and running.

Now that I’m finished for the day, I walk back to our apartment. As I get closer, I see Grace standing out front. She can barely keep her eyes open as she hands the landlord our rent. He has a dirty look on his face, and she has a drugged-out look on hers. I stop myself from wiping the back of my hand across my sweaty neck when I get a glimpse of the grease. As I approach them, I hear him talking to her in a raised voice. “I’m getting really tired of this, Grace. Every month you’re late. Every single month. I know you’re on public assistance. I know you can pay it.”