“Really? When I was in school, wearing a guy’s varsity jacket meant you were dating.”

“Well, that was a bajillion years ago, mom.”

My father laughed as he walked into the kitchen. “If your mom is a bajillion years old, I don’t want to know how old that makes me.”

My mom smiled up at him and I looked away as the two of them kissed.

“For the record,” my father said, “I came to the same conclusion as your mother about the jacket. But Axel was just being a gentleman because Scarlett was dressed inappropriately at school yesterday.” He stared at me. “And today. Hopefully he’ll let her keep it.”

“I’m not dressed inappropriately,” I said. Not even a little bit. My dad had made sure of that when he’d confiscated my Odegaards last night. I was back to wearing flats like a peasant.

“Speaking of which…we should probably let you know how long you’re grounded for. Right, Penny?”

My mom nodded her head.

I was really hoping when they said they needed to talk about it last night, that it meant that my mom would make my grounding suddenly disappear. Like she usually did. Besides, I’d already handed over my contraband high heels.

“I know I originally said a month…” my dad’s voice trailed off. “But I think a week will suffice.”

A week? But that meant I’d miss the start-of-school party on Friday night. “Dad, you saw the way the other girls at Empire High dress. I wasn’t wearing anything different than they were. I shouldn’t be grounded at all.”

“I don’t care about what the other girls wear. I care that you lied to me.”

“I didn’t lie…”

“You promised not to roll your skirt that’s already too short.”

“I…” my voice trailed off. Gah, I hadn’t meant to lie. I’d just been trying to get Axel’s attention because he was being an ass. “I’m sorry. I really am. But please don’t make me miss the first party of the year tomorrow night. I promise I won’t roll my skirt today.”

“You’re only promising that because you know I’ll be there. And I don’t love the word today. That implies that you’ll do it again tomorrow.”

“Mom,” I said and turned to her. “He’s being unreasonable.”

My mom held back a smile. “When has your father ever been unreasonable?”

“Literally all the time.”

“Hmm…” she said.

“Prime example – he signed up to be my teacher this year without telling me.”

“Sweetie, he did that to spend time with you before you go off to college. One day you’ll look back at this and be grateful. And you’re only grounded for one week. There will be other parties.”