Chapter 50

When I went to start the call, Diana’s eyes went wide and she remembered we were still just in our panties. I got a shock; I hadn’t even realized… imagine my mom picking up and asking why I was “studying” with the teacher practically naked. What a disaster.

We hurried to get dressed and went to the living room, sitting on the couch trying to act normal.

“You sure about this, Jujube?” she asked, with that look like she already wanted to back out.

“Yeah. And sooner or later I’m gonna have to tell her anyway; she’ll ask no matter what.” Better to get rid of one problem all at once.

Convinced that the motel was no longer an option, I grabbed the contacts list and dialed. The phone took forever to be answered… if I was dying, I’d already be in the coffin, because my mom is a total klutz with her cell.

Finally, her voice came through on the other end.

“What do you want, Jujube?”

From the lazy tone, I could picture it: she was probably lying next to my stepdad. And right then I thought: these two only know how to fuck, gross, it’s like it’s in the family. I let out an awkward little laugh and said:

“Mom, I need to call my dad; I’ve got a problem.”

On the other side of the line, my mom jumped and her tone shot up right away. At home, talking about calling my dad was a sign of war. The guy was quick-tempered, solved everything by yelling or with his fists, and that’s why she avoided involving him in anything as much as possible.

“What’s wrong, my girl?!” she yelled, scared.

“Mom, calm down…”

She went straight into battle mode, the veins in her neck bulging even over the phone.

“Don’t tell me to calm down; answer, fuck!”

“I’m fine, Mom, it’s not that. But listen…”

She took a deep breath, a bit more restrained.

“Spit it out, damn it. You’re scaring me, you little shit.”

“I’m your daughter, don’t forget.”

“Jujube, don’t test my patience.”

So I let it out. I told every detail, no rush, almost like it was neighbor gossip. I said where I’d met the guy, told the story about the car, mentioned Diana, the mix-ups… and, just to add a little spice, I let slip that he was asking me to the motel the next day.

I paused, holding the silence. On the other end, I could feel the weight of her breathing. My mom was looking at my stepdad — and as always, she forgot we could hear everything over the phone. She started arguing with him like I wasn’t even there. Diana was staring at me in shock, like she was at a zoo.

The wimp of a stepdad soon dropped his gem: it was better not to do anything, just let the boy go. Typical. My mom, on the other hand, wanted to wring his neck with her bare hands. I knew: if I didn’t say anything, she’d end up giving in to the coward.

“Mom, it’s kinda worse, you know?” I said, already stirring the pot. “It wasn’t with me, but he took money from Diana. The poor thing busts her ass giving lessons to pay the bills, she’s in a real tight spot, and the bastard still dipped into her cash. Poor girl.”

I’m fake as hell.

On the other end, I heard my stepdad trying to weasel out, but it was just his deflated voice.

“That’s a job for the cops. Tell her to go to the police.”

I could barely hear what was said next because my mom’s scream almost blew out the damn phone.

“What cops, you coward! You want my family in line at the station with hookers and potheads? You eat shit?!”

I didn’t miss the chance and threw more fuel on the fire:

“He’s scared of my dad, Mom…”

“And you shut your mouth!” she exploded at me. “Because I know somehow you’re in the wrong in this story. And get your ass home right now; I want you here immediately, you hear me?”

And to make sure…

“Mom, you calling Dad or am I?”

My mom got serious, like all her anger had just vanished. She breathed, looked off to the side thoughtfully. It was like she was deciding whether to hit the nuclear button.

“I’ll talk to him. Don’t worry about it; I just don’t want you talking to him. You hear me?”

I bit my lip and almost jumped for joy at the chaos I’d just sown, but I couldn’t let it show.

“He’s coming to the house tomorrow, Mom.”

“What time?”

“Around two or three…”

My mom let out that little laugh that was scary, a crooked smile that already spelled doom, and fired off:

“Let him. The motel he’s going to is jail, and there he’ll be the little woman…”

My mom, always the best feminist. I laughed to myself at that thought.

“Mom… I know you want me home because you’re nervous, but I’m gonna stick around and keep Diana company a bit longer, okay? She’s all alone…”

It came out sweet, even with a hint of truth. I really had a soft spot for her, even with all the mess.

“Bring her here to the house.” Her mom’s tone rose; I could hear her moving around on the other end, like she was already making space in the bed. “Diana, come sleep at our place, honey; I’ll take care of you.”

Diana gave me an embarrassed look; she had no business going to my house. She was a few years older, saw me as a kid… well, a kid who’d fucked her real good. Before she could answer, I cut in:

“Mom, I’ll check with her here, okay? I won’t be long and I’ll text when I’m heading out. Cool?”

The answer came in classic mom style: hanging up in my face.

My mom never said goodbye.

The last few hours had been a whirlwind of emotions and sensations; I was scared, horny as hell, came like crazy, hooked up with a hot chick, felt pain, hate, envy, guilt — I could go on all day. What I felt right then after hanging up the phone was emptiness. I don’t know how to explain why or why I’m even talking about it now.

Diana looked at me curiously, her blue eyes blinking differently.

“I wish I had a family like that, you know? A family I could count on. Yours is really tight-knit.”

“Mine is… I complain, talk shit, but when someone needs help, everybody shows up with a shovel and a torch in hand, ready to start a riot.”

She laughed, tying her blonde hair into an impromptu bun.

“Your mom was so sweet, inviting me over.”

“Look, Diana… I know it’s got nothing to do with it, but it would be nice. You’d get your mind off things a bit.” I let out a naughty laugh; I couldn’t resist — “and we could fool around some more…”

She laughed nervously and blushed, her cheeks burning.

“Oh my God, girl… after all this, you’re still thinking about that?”

“No. I wasn’t thinking… until I really looked at you.”

Diana paused, and all that weight on her face started dissolving, like clouds parting for the sun. And then came that smile, her pretty light coming back. Before I knew it, she had leaned in.

The kiss started soft, a hesitant brush of lips on lips, like she was testing the waters. I smelled the sweet scent of her hair, felt her hot breath on my face, and gave in. Her tongue asked for entry, and I let it, opening my mouth slowly until I tasted her mixed with mine. My heart raced, my hands that had been on the couch climbed to her body almost without me noticing.

Diana moaned softly into the kiss, and every sound made my body tremble more. She pulled me by the nape with force, like she was afraid I’d slip away, and I clung to her too, feeling our thighs brush, our breaths become one. The kiss built up, from tender to urgent, from soft to wet, from fear to hunger.

Even though my pussy was screaming for that woman, there was still one thing we had to do…

Call him to make sure he’d be there tomorrow, like a fool walking into the den I call home!