Sinful Serenade

Chapter 7

Danielle

It's finally Friday. The week with Mom has been unbearable, and all I've been wanting to do is get away. She drags me to church almost every damn day, and insists I stay in the house so she knows where I am at all times.

Did I forget to mention she wants me to join the choir? I'll sooner rip out my own vocal cords than do that.

As I lie on my bed, scrolling on my phone, Mom appears in the doorway. "Danielle, choir rehearsal is tomorrow morning at 9am. I told Bishop you would be there."

My hands curl into fists, nails digging into my palms. I've already told her no, but she's still trying to force me.

She glares at me coldly. "Don't give me that look, little girl. I remember in high school you used to sing that devil music. It's time you used the gift God gave you for its intended purpose."

Key words: In high school. I don't sing at all anymore. My passion for it was completely destroyed by her.

There has to be a way out of this. Like maybe I can find a job or something to occupy my time so she will stop trying to fill it with more ways to control my life.

"I can't go. I have a job interview tomorrow," I blurt out.

That means I also can't go to lunch with the toxic circle of bitches she calls friends.

Her eyes widen, then slowly ignite with anger. "A job?" she snaps, her voice sharp enough to cut through steel. "Who told you to get a job? Isn't it enough that I work hard each and every day to provide for you?"

My throat tightens, and I struggle to swallow past the lump forming there. "I...I just wanted some extra money for next semester," I stammer.

"Greed is a sin, Danielle," she scolds, her tone heavy with disapproval. "I give you enough money for your tuition and books, that's all you need. You should be ashamed for acting so ungrateful towards your own mother!"

With her words pressing down on me like a boulder, I protest weakly, "I swear, I'm not. I just don't like Maeve having to pay when we go out-"

"If you want entertainment, pull out your Bible. You don't need to be hanging around that girl anyway, she's a bad influence. She's going to drag you straight to hell with her."

Good. If people like my mom make it into heaven, I don't want to be there.

"I can turn down the job, but Maeve got me this interview at her Dad's company, and I don't want to just not show up-"

Her hand slices through the air, silencing me with a forceful gesture reminiscent of the f*****g "quiet coyote" signal used by elementary school teachers. I grit my teeth, my anger bubbling inside me like hot lava.

"I raised you better than this. Your personal life is never more important than God, so you will bring your behind to church tomorrow or else," she seethes.

Her eyes narrow as she awaits my response, her gaze piercing through me like daggers. When I don't retort, satisfaction creeps across her features, accepting my silence as compliance.

"Good. I'm glad we've come to an understanding," she declares, sounding so f*****g sure of herself. "I'm working a double at the hospital tonight, so I will be calling Pastor after choir rehearsal tomorrow morning to ask if you showed up."

With that, she retreats from my room. As soon as she's out of earshot, I grab my phone and call Maeve. She answers on the last ring before voicemail, her cheerful tone a stark contrast to the heaviness in my chest.

"Hey girl, what's up?" she greets.

In a low voice, I say, "I'm going to the party tonight. I just need your help with something first."

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"Is there a reason your mom needs to know your location?" Joseph asks, seated on my bed next to Maeve. He's a lanky guy with cornrows that are pulled back neatly, and deep brown eyes.

When I told Maeve I couldn't go anywhere until I found a way to block Mom from tracking my location, she quickly located someone who could help.

"She's a f*****g control freak," Maeve answers for me, bitterness lacing her words. "Do you really think you can make it where her phone says she's at home?"

He looks at her, offended. "Well, I'm not going to school for nothing," he retorts.

Maeve raises her hands in defense. "Sorry, sorry. I'll be quiet," she mumbles.

With access to my iPhone, Joseph gets to work, concentration evident on his features as he dives into the task at hand.

This is f*****g embarrassing. I'm a grown ass woman having to have my phone hacked just so my mom can't track me.

Can my life get any worse?

"So what are you doing?" Maeve asks curiously, leaning in closer.

"I'm using GPS spoofing software to manipulate the location data on her phone," he answers, his voice steady as his hands continue flying over the keyboard, lines of code scrolling rapidly across the screen. The room is filled with tense silence, anxiety knotting my stomach with each passing moment.

I hope he knows what he's doing. I mean, Maeve did pay him five hundred dollars for this.

"There, you're good to go," he finally announces, sounding confident as he hands me back my phone.

I nervously gnaw on my lip. "And you're sure this will work?"

"You could go to Antarctica right now, and your mom will still think you're in bed," he replies matter-of-factly, his assurance easing my anxiety a little.

I exhale a breath I didn't realize I was holding, relief flooding through me. "Thanks, I owe you my f*****g life right now."

He grins, his brown eyes glinting with with mischief. "Actually, I do want one more thing. An invite to this party. I heard Victoria Jenkins is going to be there."

"Consider it done," Maeve replies instantly. "But no offense, she only dates guys from 'William and Mary' and above."

He chuckles. "Isn't this a masked party? How will she know who I am?"

She tilts her head to the side, humming softly. "Good point, but you don't exactly smell like a rich asshole."

"What do you suppose a 'rich asshole' smells like?" Joseph inquires with a hint of amusement.

"I dunno...Dior, Armani...something douchey like that."

My mouth drops open. "That s**t is expensive. Are you going to buy it for him?"

"No, we're going to Lynnhaven Mall. I think it closes at nine, so we have time to get a sample and also buy you both masks. I know you don't have one," Maeve responds.

"I wear one every damn day of my life," I mumble bitterly.

Maeve shoots me a sympathetic glance. "Girl, you know you could still live with me, right?"

I shake my head, a pang of fear coursing through me. "I told you she'd stop paying for my classes, and then where would I go in life?"

She shrugs, her expression thoughtful. "You didn't even want to go to college in the first place. Maybe you'd be able to pursue music like you wanted to."

Yeah, right.

I cough out a dry laugh, the idea of abandoning my mom's expectations seeming like an impossible dream. "Can you imagine the stroke she would have if I did that? She'd most definitely disown me."

"Would that really be a loss, though?" she asks, her brows knitting together with concern, her voice soft yet probing.

Not at f*****g all.

But I'm halfway there to getting my degree. I just have to deal with my mom for two more years.

The thought makes my stomach sink. Seriously, how am I going to survive another two years of this?

Maeve grabs my hand as if he can sense my worry. "Tonight, let's forget about all our problems. We'll get a new outfit to match your mask, and then maybe you can even get lit, and end up having some sinful s*x with a stranger."

I shake my head. "Doubt it. I haven't had s*x in years."

Five years to be exact.

Jumping off my bed, she excitedly follows Joseph out the door. "Well, I'm determined to get you some d**k tonight. Let's go!"