“You look gorgeous, sweetie.” Mom’s pride was evident, and I blushed. She smoothed the collar of the aqua button-down shirt I wore. “This brings out the blue of your eyes.” She stroked my cheek. “I’m so happy you’re going to spend the evening with your friends.”
“Me, too.” I didn’t tell her they weren’t really friends. The reason she thought I had friends was because that was what I’d told her. She had too much on her plate trying to make ends meet—my deadbeat father had never paid the child support he owed, which was why she was always scrimping and saving to see the rent was paid and I had nice clothes to wear. At least she hadn’t had to worry about food since I’d gotten the job at Uncle Angelo’s. That was one of the reasons I experimented with different types. As sacrilegious as it mig
