Page 65 of The Crafting Con

He clears his throat. “Well, you see…”

Tyler drops me off in front of my house an hour before I would usually be getting home, and I know something’s off the minute I see Mom’s car in the driveway. She’s almost never home this early on a Thursday.

Her face when I walk into the kitchen seals my doom.

She is pissed.

“Skipping school, Ava? Are you kidding me?”

I slink over to the table where she’s sitting and slump down into the opposite chair. “I’m sorry, I just needed to blow off some steam. I didn’t mean to worry you.” My brows furrow, and I check my text and call history. No missed messages from home. So, clearly not too worried then.

Mom sighs. “This is about your dad trying to barge his way in this weekend, isn’t it? Typical Archer. Never thinking how his actions affect those around him. But don’t worry—I will not let him ruin prom for you.”

Prom is literally the least of my worries. Especially now, given the favor Tyler asked of me. One I was more than happy to grant. But in a way, she’s right. I am worried about how his actions will affect Mom. And if I’m honest, I’m not too thrilled with them myself. But prom isn’t the problem. It’s OA Con, and all the memories that come with it. I want so badly to reclaim this experience that once brought me immeasurable amounts of joy, but how can I possibly do that when I can’t seem to let go of the past?

Something has to give.

I need to⁠—

“Your father aside, you can’t just go skipping school for an entire day like that,” Mom barrels on, dousing the tiny spark of courage I’ve managed to build. “Especially without calling to check in. I mean, how hard is it to shoot your mother a text saying where you are? You know the school is going to contact me, so it’s not like you had a chance of getting away with it. I mean, let’s face it, Ava. You’re no Ferris Bueller.”

“Who?”

“Never mind. The point is, you chose poorly, and actions have consequences. You’re grounded for the rest of the day. Meaning no phone, no TV, nothing. Just homework and room time.” She holds out her hand, face expectant. “Pass over the cell. You can have it back in the morning.”

My stomach sinks. I have yet to hear back from Declan. “Can I make one quick call first?”

Her lips thin into a firm line. “That’s not how punishments work, Ava. Now hand it over.”

Awesome. Now I’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out if Declan replies. I give Mom the phone without another word, any urge to talk things over with her wilting away.

I’m too upset to bother.

CHAPTER 26

DECLAN

One day until OA Con

Last night was the longest I’ve experienced in five years. After school I raced to the PE office and got my phone back from Coach Adams, only to find the battery had died. Some speed limits may have been broken on the return home.

When I finally succeeded in getting it turned back on, my heart just about stopped when I saw Ava’s message. “Tell me the truth, and I promise to believe you.” Only I hadn’t told her anything, because I couldn’t. So I typed out a lengthy text explaining what had happened and assuring her, I had, in fact, been planning to tell her. Begging her to understand.

No reply.

I debated going to her house and knocking on the door but couldn’t decide if that would only cause trouble with her mom. Indecision held me captive until nightfall, when I opted to skulk about her bedroom window with a handful of pebbles.

Curse my terrible aim. Every last throw went wide, until one actually hit the neighboring window and I freaked out, because I’m pretty sure it was either her mom’s bedroom or her office. Either way, it put an end to the rock toss attempts. I spent the next three hours at the park, sitting on the swings and staring at my phone.

Ava never texted.

I trudged home just after midnight and fell into bed feeling thoroughly defeated. Little to no sleep was had.

Now I’m starting the day exhausted, and from the ghastly reflection looking back at me from my bathroom mirror, it shows.

No new texts from Ava.

I step into the shower and crank up the heat. Trying to scald some feeling back into my numb limbs. It doesn’t work, but at least I smell better.