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Just then the phone rang I checked caller ID, blew out a breath and picked up the phone "Hi, Mom!"

"Mia, where have you been all weekend? I orried sick"

I paused, clearing ot super busy Extra shifts"

"I called your work," her voice tre to her I never lied to her I squeezedon? Why are you lying to ulped "I--I’m fine Okay? You don’t need to worry--"

"I’et hold of you, then I try to find out what the hell is going on Heath--"

"Mom, please don’t call Heath anyht now"

"Okay, now I’m really worried Can I come down there?"

I took a shaky breath "I’m sorry, Mom I just I’ someone? Is that it?"

I bit my lip "Um"

"Mia, do you have a boyfriend?"

"No"

"Then what?"

"There’s someone But I’m not ready to talk about it, okay?" And by the tione out ofpause "Is it serious?"

I cleared h to mention, which is why I haven’t I’lad you’re dating"

Dating A ball of sickness bunched in ht of actually dating or of lying to , I couldn’t tell