Page 39 of Lance

“Be careful, Willa,” Nia saysquietly.

“Careful ofwhat?”

“Getting tooinvolved.”

“You mean withLance.”

She’s quiet for a moment. “There are a lot of really complicated variables here. I just don’t want you getting too…you know. Tangled up init.”

“You’re the one who’s always telling me to be more spontaneous,” I argue. “To get out of my comfort zone and go for what Iwant.”

“I think dropping out of school was plenty spontaneous for one week,” she says drily. “Look, I’m not going to tell you what to do. I just want you to be careful. Don’t let yourself get all carried away because the hottie with the fine ass needsrescuing.”

I snort. “I’ll keep that inmind.”

“Your mom called three times tonight, by theway.”

I manage to suppress my groan. “Awesome.”

“What did James say about all ofthat?”

My conversation with James seems like it took place about a year ago. “He was surprisingly cool. He even said he’d talk to Mom forme.”

“Well, let’s just hope he hurries up,” she mutters. “I’m running out excuses for where youare.”

“You’re a good friend, NiaJacobs.”

“I know, I know,” she says in a long-suffering voice that makes me smile. “I’ll think of a way you can make it up tome.”

After we hang up I wander around the room a little, feeling restless. I know that Nia has a point about the situation being complicated. I’m supposed to be figuring out my mess of a life right now, and getting myself all wrapped up in Lance and his problems is definitely not the best way to dothat.

I stop in front of the coffee table, looking down at our pictures, and I feel that same tug at my heart that I felt before. I’m already tangled up in this, I realize, whether I should be ornot.