after her,” Dad adds. “Victoria shouldn’t have been there at all.”
Shannon doesn’t acknowledge Dad at all. “Victoria says you and another man were pushing her around,” she says to me.
I snort derisively and Shannon glares at me. “No one touched her other than her cheerleader friends who were dragging her away. No one even moved from where they stood in the stands. I’m sure my parents already told you what happened. Arissa and Jason will tell you the same thing.
“You might want to talk to her about why she was there. She knows that’s my school and that I would likely be at the game. She had to know she would be violating the restraining order by being there.”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t do that.”
“You need to take the wool off your eyes,” I say, my voice holding a terse edge.
“Now that’s quite enough,” she says haughtily.
“Well, I’m done. Are you?”
“Sara,” Dad says in a warning tone.
“Sorry, but I can’t stand her condescension. After the ordeal with Mr. Croft last week and everything since my birthday, I’m tired of adults who think they can run me over.” I pick up my backpack. “Goodbye, Shannon.”
I head straight for Jason and curl up in his lap. He folds his arms around me and settles into the sofa.
“She is so infuriating,” I say.
“What did she do this time?” Arissa asks.
“The same as last time. Can you believe Victoria told her that me and Dad were pushing her?”
“She’s pretty gullible for a social worker.”
“That’s Victoria’s social worker?” Jason asks.
“Yeah.”
Mom pokes her head in the room. “She’s gone.”
My muscles relax in an instant. “Sorry if I overstepped with what I said. I don’t mean to make you and Dad look bad.”
“You don’t make us look bad. Quite the contrary. I’m always proud of you when you stand up for yourself.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I beam.
“Snacks and drinks?”
“Yes, please!” Arissa answers.
“I don’t even feel like doing homework now,” I state. “Part of me just wants to blow it all off.”
“What do you have for homework?” Jason asks.
“Hamlet. Pre-calc. Euro history questions. And some other stuff I can’t think of right now.”
“You’ve already read Hamlet. That should be easy for you to work on until we take a break and play a game or something.”
“No.” I snake my arms around him tight. “I’m staying right here.”
Arissa pretends to stifle a laugh, then makes a gagging sound with her finger in her mouth.
“You’re just jealous because Damian is at practice,” I say
“Don’t worry your pretty little head, Jericho,” he says. “I start practices soon.”
I push out my bottom lip at him. Half teasing. Half serious. I like having him over after school to do homework together.
“I can’t have my Parker unhappy.”
He darts in and plants a swift, chaste kiss on the lips. He breaks away as I attempt to return it.
“Get a room!” Arissa teases.
“Great idea. I know just the place,” I jest.
“Seriously?” Jason asks, playing along and pushing to his feet to carry me off in his arms. “Where?”
“Food!” Mom announces, stepping in the room. Dad follows with a tray of drinks.
“Foiled again!” Jason declares, plopping back down on the sofa.
“What’s going on in here?” Dad asks, laughing.
“Goofing off because I lost my motivation to do homework,” I admit.
“I’d say we all earned some goofing off. Shall we pop in a movie?”
“You don’t have to go back to work?” Arissa asks.
He grins and rubs his hands together like he does when we’re about to play a game. “I took the rest of the afternoon off.”
“Yes!” we chorus.
Sometimes distractions are necessary to regain focus. I would call Shannon a complete derailment. Family time, even if it is spent watching a movie, will get me back on track.
And I need to be on track. Manny’s trial starts soon and Len is calling me to the stand first.
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
I sit on the stand in front of the courtroom. They all look the same to me now, just different faces populating the crowd.
Manny sits behind the defendant’s table in a blue suit too long in the arms. Gary Prescott, Simon’s former lawyer, is seated next to him. Erica sits behind them in the first row, stoicism is painted on her face.
She’s a good foster mother compared to Terry. She genuinely cares and I know how much she wants a child of her own. I’m sad that she’ll never be able to have one as long as she’s married to Manny. I think she knows that fact.
Mom sits behind Len’s table with Hunter. Everyone took