I thought I’d share a scene from The Boyfriend Bet where Zoe and Grant have yet another detention for kissing on school grounds. I hope it makes you smile.

“Remember the last time we had detention and Principal Stephens didn’t have time to call our parents?”

Crap. I’d totally forgotten. “He’s definitely going to call our parents this time.”

“The good news is, my mom should be shopping with friends, and my dad won’t be home to answer the phone. What about you?”

“My mom was planning to hit the grocery store after work tonight, which means he’ll probably reach my grandma. That won’t be so bad.”

He grabbed my hand and led me into the office.

“You two again.” The secretary dug the dead chicken timer out of the drawer. “Have a seat. Principal Stephens will call you into the office once your parents arrive.”

Grant and I sat at the table, checking the door every time someone walked in. The third time the door opened, my grandmother walked in, smiling. Spotting me, she scowled like a villain from a cartoon, which made me laugh.

“Quiet,” the secretary snapped.

It took a great amount of self-control not to roll my eyes. After my grandmother signed in, she sat in a chair outside the principal’s office, pulled out a steel blue scarf she was crocheting, and went to work.

The door opened, and Grant frowned. A petite brunette walked in, looking like she was ready to sue the entire school into the dust. She had to be his mother. The way she carried herself reminded me of Lena. I would so have to torture Grant about that later.

His mom didn’t acknowledge the secretary or bother signing in. She marched straight back toward the principal’s office.

“Ma’am, you have to sign in,” the secretary said in a much nicer tone than she’d used with us.

“Do you know who I am?” Grant’s mom said, in a voice that carried through the office.

Grant ducked his head, like he was embarrassed of his mom’s behavior.

“If you signed in, she’d know who you were,” my grandmother said in a conversational tone.

Grant’s mom zeroed in on my grandma. She examined her from head to toe. Apparently my grandmother’s jeans and thermal pink camo shirt didn’t pass inspection, because she sneered and then said, “Who are you?”

Pretending not to notice what a bitch Grant’s mom was being, my grandmother set down the scarf she was working on and held out her hand. “I’m Monica Cain. And you are?”

The principal’s door opened, and the man himself stepped outside. “Sorry to keep you waiting, ladies. Please come in.”

Would we have to go in there with them?
“Zoe, Grant, in here. Now.”
That answered that question. I pushed my chair back and sighed.
Grant stood. He opened his mouth to say something and then stopped.
“Your mom is going to hate me, isn’t she?”
He cringed and then turned and headed for the open door where the principal waited, irritation clear on his face. …

It was awkward with all ve of us shoved in Principal Stephen’s office. The adults sat in the chairs, while Grant and I stood wedged in on the side of his desk so all three of them could glare at us. Although my grandma wasn’t really glaring. Grant’s mom could’ve stared down an axe murderer.

“I’m sorry to disturb you ladies, but this is the third time Grant and Zoe have been cited for PDA’s.”

“I’m sorry,” my grandmother said. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

I was sure she knew what he meant, and was messing with the man. I ducked my head like I was embarrassed, but I was trying not to smile.

“They’ve been caught kissing on school grounds.” Principal Stephens sat straighter in his chair and adjusted his tie.

Grant’s mom gave me the once over. “You think this is a girl worth getting in trouble over? If it was someone like Lena, I could understand, but her…it’s ridiculous.”

My face heated, and I wanted to slap the smug expression off her face.

Grant’s arm went around my waist. “Mother, I—”

“Excuse me, Grant,” my grandma said, in her I’m-about-to-load-the-shotgun voice. “What do you mean my granddaughter isn’t worth getting in trouble over? She’s smart, she’s beautiful.”

Grant’s mom snorted. “Cute maybe, but not beautiful.”

“Ladies, if we could return to the problem at hand?” Principal Stephens tugged at his tie.

“The problem at hand is this woman seems to think she can insult my granddaughter without retaliation. And that isn’t true.” My grandmother shook her head. “Everett told me you were a pill. I thought he was being mean, but now I see he was being generous.”

“Everett? My father-in-law? Why were you speaking to him?”

“We’re dating, dear. He invited me to dinner at your house this Sunday.”

“Trying to pad your retirement account?” Grant’s mom asked.

“It’s a wonder how so much bitchiness can be contained in such a small woman,” my grandmother shot back.