Page 28 of April’s Fool

“I’m sorry, I should have,” I tell her, leaning against her and nudging her with my shoulder. “It’s just been a lot going on, and I didn’t know how, I guess.”

“So, how’s the sex?” Mercy asks blatantly.

I blush and shake my head, and Kayla gasps, shooting a glare at Mercy. “Are you serious right now? You know April better than that.”

It’s not surprising that both my best friends know this about me, but it is at the same time.

I blush and glance over at Fool again, only to find him staring back at me. I smile at him and answer Mercy’s question. “We haven’t done that, but making out with him is amazing.”

“Well, that’s something,” she mumbles, glancing around the room. “There are a lot of hotties in this room, that’s for sure. Who knows, I might just be able to find someone who will play with me.”

“Just don’t get any of Fool’s brothers killed,” I say jokingly as a warning. Twister will kill anyone who touches his daughter. If only he knew the truth about her. She’s not a little flower on a pedestal. Mercy had sex for the first time on prom night at seventeen.

Kayla, on the other hand, has also had sex, and from what she’s told us, it’s only been two guys, both at school.

“So, I’ve got some news to share with you guys,” Kayla announces.

“What’s that?” Mercy asks.

Kayla bites her bottom lip, eyes darting around the room. “I dropped out of school.”

“What?” I gasp. She’d never mentioned any issues at school.

“I don’t want to go into detail about it, but it was for the best.” The way she says it, I know there’s more she’s not telling us. “I haven’t told Mom and Dad yet.”

“What happened?” Mercy presses.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Kayla says firmly. “I just wanted to get the fact that I dropped out off my chest.”

The way she refuses to meet our gaze tells me there’s a whole lot more to the story, but I won’t push her on it. I’ll just be here for her, as she’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t want it. I still haven’t told them about Samuel and his friends, but maybe while they’re here, I’ll give them the details.

“How long are you guys staying?” I ask, changing the subject.

“I have to be at school Sunday night,” Mercy answers with a sigh. “Two more weeks of class and I’m done. Then it’s graduation, moving out of the apartment, and going back home. Though, I’d definitely prefer to move away from Franklin. I love being home, but I like being out on my own.”

“I get it,” I agree. It’s nice, but it’s also lonely.

“Maybe I can move out this way without Dad throwing a fit,” Mercy says out loud, though I’m sure she’s thinking it to herself rather than saying it to either of us. She has a habit of doing that a lot.

“Well, if you do move here, we’ll have each other.” I smile.

“Maybe I should too,” Kayla remarks. “Then I won’t have to break the news to the folks. They’re gonna flip. I could just stay here when they go back home. It’s not like I didn’t drive here myself.”

“You’re gonna have to tell them.” I reach for her hand and squeeze it. “But if you want to hide out here, I’m sure we can figure something out.”

“Thanks, I think I might just do that for now. It’ll give me time to figure out what I’m going to do.” Kayla nods and smiles at me.

“Oh boy,” Mercy mumbles, and I look in her direction, following her line of sight, only to get annoyed at what I see.

Venus has her hands on Fool, trying to push herself onto him.

“You realize you’re going to have to make it clear he’s off-limits, right?” Kayla grumbles.

“I’m seeing that,” I huff, starting in my husband’s direction. There’s no missing it; he’s pushed her away, only for her to keep touching him. I know he’s not a man to hit a woman, though it’s clear he’s getting pissed.

He spots me before she does, and his lips tip up ever so slightly.

“Come on, Fool,” Venus purrs, reaching for him again. “You know you don’t want to be married to some fat, shy bitch who can’t give you what I can.”