Her Father, My Master: Mentor by Mallorie Griffin Read Free Book Online Page A

one!"
    "No one that goes here?"
    "No one at all!"
    Jess shook her head now, smirking.  "Come on Krys, I've seen that look on your face twice before.  You're in love.  Or lust.  Or something.  Spill the beans!"
    "It's no one, I swear!"
    She rolled her eyes in an exaggerated motion.  "Whatever.  You can't keep him a secret forever."
    "Yes I can, because he doesn't exist."  I was nervous, though.  Jess had knocked me out of my blissful state, and I spent the rest of the day on edge, just waiting for another onslaught of questions.
    I was starting to doubt myself, too.  Why the hell did a man like Mr. Hendricks want to be with an inexperienced little dope like me?  He was drop dead gorgeous, he could've gone out into the world and gotten any woman he wanted.  Why did he choose me, of all people?  Was I just convenient to him?
    I felt my nerves on the rise all through Friday, and by Saturday, I was a little anxious ball yet again.  It was even worse than last time, for some strange reason.  I knew part of it was because Mr. Hendricks hadn't contacted me at all through the week, and I was desperate for some sort of communication with him.  I didn't know if he changed his mind, or if he wanted to go through with this for a second time.  I had to assume from his silence that he did.
    My parents could sense my growing anxiety, and they'd been concerned about my somewhat strange behavior all week.  My dad assumed that it was because I broke up with Joey, but my mom was slightly more perceptive.  She caught me on Saturday on my way the kitchen for some food.
    "Krystal, can I have a word with you?" she asked as I passed her in the hallway.
    "Uh, sure, I guess."  I hadn't been talking much to my parents lately.  Tensions were high - they wanted me to do things that I definitely do want to do, such as homework and clean the house.  But I had far more important things on my mind than keeping my room neat.
    "You've been acting strange, and I just want to make sure everything's all right."
    I recoiled defensively.  "Of course everything's okay!"   Why did she have to be so nosy?  Ever since my sister left for college last September, she had no one to focus on but me.  It was getting aggravating.  "Why do you care, anyways?  Why don't you just go call my sister?  She's the good one, remember?"
    "Oh sweetie."  I sighed inwardly at those inevitable words .  I was going to get the guilt trip about how we were both equally important, and how dare I phrase it any other way.   "You know we don't compare the two of you.  How can you think that?"
    "Sorry Mom."  I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.  Why did she think that laying the blame on me would help me feel any better?  I knew she was just doing it to assuage her own guilt.  "I know you and Dad don't think that way."
    "Good.  Now, what's on your mind?  I know it isn't Joey."
    I curled my lips upward slightly in a sneer, at the mere mention of that boy's name.  I didn't like being reminded of his existence at all now.   He did nothing for me, and only pulled me out of my euphoria surrounding Maddie's father.   But my mom didn't know about the exact circumstances of our break-up and I just couldn't get her to stop talking about him.  "You're right.  I guess I'm worried."  That much was true.  "About colleges, and stuff."  That there was a lie.  College was the last thing on my mind at the moment.  But I knew the acceptance letters would be arriving soon, so it made for a convenient excuse .
    "Oh, I see."  My mom patted my shoulder awkwardly.  Physical affection had never really been her thing.  "I'm sure you'll get accepted into your primary, and you know you don't need to get a scholarship.  We've got a fund for you."  I nodded, my mind drifting to other things .  I really didn't want to think about college at all, but now that I had her on the subject, my mom wouldn't shut up.
    She was always going on and on about how it would be hard, but I