Page 104 of By Rude Strength

“I was asleep.” LA just smiled.

Deborah scoffed and stared expectantly.

LA kept his teeth together and said nothing else. He fought the urge to explain that he was tired from the art show because she didn’t deserve to know that.

He was going to do this.

He would be strong.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?” Deborah smiled politely.

“Yeah. Sure.” LA still didn’t move, and he glanced over to his mother’s car parked out on the street. His heart froze in his chest and he fought not to scream. He kept his face as neutral as possible as he said firmly, “She’s not coming inside.”

Deborah pretended to look confused and smiled innocently. “Who?”

“Mom, I can see Katie sitting in your car. I’m not stupid. I know exactly what she looks like.” LA snorted. “She’s not coming inside my house.”

“Sweetie, it’ll just be for a few minutes and you two can finally work out this childish drama and—”

LA slammed the door in her face.

Holy shit.

He turned around to find Cass right behind him with coffee.

Cass cheered and rainbow confetti exploded everywhere. “Yay!”

LA gasped and then hissed between clenched teeth. He couldn’t believe what he’d done. “I just shut the door!”

“I know!”

“In her face!”

“I know.” Cass sighed as he handed LA the coffee. “Oh, it was great.”

“Thank you, thank you.” LA grinned, holding the coffee up in a little toast.

There was a knock.

Judging by how hard it was, Deborah was not happy.

LA took a deep breath, put on a big grin, and then opened the door. “Yes?”

“Did you just shut the door in my face?” Deborah snapped.

“Yes. Yes, I did.”

“Why in the world—”

“Because you’re not listening to me.” LA sipped his coffee. “You’re just waiting for your turn to speak.”

Deborah huffed. “That is not true.”

“Oh really? So, you understand that Katie is not coming inside my house?”

“Sweetie, you two really need to—”

LA started to shut the door again.