Friday morning began badly. Tonya was late getting up, and I hadn’t slept at all, which meant I was acting like “Uncle Cranky,” the nickname Marius used for me when I was in a mood.
Marius said he loved me…
I pushed thoughts of him and what he’d blurted after our mutual m**********n session last night out of my mind. I needed to focus right now. My nervous breakdown could come later.
“Come on, Tonya,” I said. “If we don’t leave soon, you’ll be late and get written up at school. That’s not happening, so hurry up.”
“All right, sorry. What’s got your panties in a twist?” she asked, sounding a lot like Sherie right then.
“Never you mind about my panties. You have one minute.” I looked at my watch and set the time. “Go.”
To her credit, Tonya was ready in fifty-five seconds. Her uniform wa
