Mrs. Bennett shoots me a look, then she goes back to teaching the lesson. I would say that she hates me more than anyone else, but truthfully, she doesn’t seem fond of any of the students. She just seems like a miserable person. Honestly, I feel sorry for Mr. Bennett sometimes.
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Chapter Twenty-One
EVE
SO FAR, my birthday has not been particularly wonderful.
My husband outright refused my advances this morning, one of my stockings got a rip in it, and Addie Severson just referred to me as “ma’am.” The only good part of the day was that text message from Jay. And the present he has assured me I will receive.
During my free period, I return a phone call from my parents. It’s been ages since we talked. If I had to guess, I’d say we haven’t had a phone call since Father’s Day. We have become the sort of family that contacts each other on major holidays, and that’s it. So I’d imagine the next time I talk to them after this will be on Christmas.
I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen them. Three years, I think.
“Eve,” Mom says when she picks up the phone. From the echo, it sounds like she is on speakerphone. “Dad and I are calling to wish you happy birthday.”
“Thank you,” I say stiffly.
“Hello, Evie,” my father speaks up. “Happy birthday, honey.”
“Thank you.”
We are so awkward and polite around each other. I never would have thought we would be like this. I was always close to my family when I was younger.
“Are you doing anything special tonight?” my mother asks.
“Nate is taking me out to dinner.”
“How is Nate doing?” When my mother asks the question, I imagine her crinkling her face in disgust.
“He’s fine.”
“Any…news?”
My mother wants to know if I’m pregnant. It’s not clear whether she wants me to be pregnant or not. She’d like to have grandchildren, but with the way our relationship has been, who knows if she would ever see them? And I’m sure that she doesn’t like the idea of me having children with Nate.
“No news,” I say.
“Oh.” She lets out a sigh. She’s relieved. “Well, I’m glad you’re doing well. Do you think you might come out to New Jersey for Christmas?”
“Maybe.” We have visited Nate’s family for the last two Christmases. Technically, it should be my parents’ turn, but I’m not excited to see them and have them judge me. “I’ll let you know.”
The silence hangs between us. There are so many things left unsaid between me and my parents. But the biggest one of all is the thing that I am most reluctant to say: You were right. I should never have married him.
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Chapter Twenty-Two
ADDIE
OH MY GOD, if I have to spend another minute in these stupid gym clothes, I’m going to throw myself out a window.
They aren’t sweaty anymore at least. But now that they have dried, they feel kind of crusty. And also, I smell. Even though I showered, my clothes smell bad, and people are scrunching up their noses at me. It wasn’t bad enough that I was the girl who slept with Mr. Tuttle. Now I’m the smelly girl who slept with Mr. Tuttle.
And my wet clothes are totally ruining my backpack and everything inside. Before I go to my last period, I make an effort to try to wring them out in the bathroom sink. It doesn’t work, and I get water all over my T-shirt. I end up stuffing the clothes back in my bag, then racing to get to class before I’m late yet again.
I arrive at Mr. Bennett’s classroom seconds after the bell rings. He’s just getting up from his desk to close the door to the classroom when I appear in the doorway. His brown eyes rake over me, and when they widen in shock, my mortification is complete. Mr. Bennett, my favorite teacher in the whole world, has now seen me in my smelly, dirty gym clothes with my legs unshaven.
As awful as it was when Mrs. Bennett yelled at me in math class, this is way worse. I’m dying a little bit inside.
“Addie?” His brows bunch together. “Are you okay?”
“Fine,” I gulp. I just want to slide into my seat and disappear for the rest of class. Only forty minutes left and this stupid day will be over.
Mr. Bennett rubs his chin, as if considering whether to accept my answer. Finally, he walks over to his desk, scribbles something on a piece of paper, and hands it to me.
“Go home early,” he murmurs, low enough that the buzzing students behind us can’t hear him. “Here’s a note in case they give you any trouble.”