“I’m…I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright, but maybe next time, don’t keep away so long.”
I contemplate telling her that maybe they shouldn’t have pushed me away, but instead, I keep my mouth shut. They’re trying, and if we’re going to make this work, we shouldn’t be keeping count of every slight.
“Ya still get that look in yer eye when ya look at Garrett.”
I blink, trying to process what exactly she said. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, ya didn’t think I knew back then? He’d come around to pick up Irene, and you’d be all bright-eyed and oh, so eager for him to notice you.”
“I suppose I was.”
“I was half expectin’ you to marry him one day.”
“I guess I was expecting that too.”
“So, how are the boys in Hollywood?”
“Some are okay, respectful. Others are jerks. All of them don’t really care too much about me, other than I’ve been in a bunch of movies.”
“City boys are made different from country ones.”
“Can’t say you’re wrong.”
“And Garrett’s made better than most, but I’m sure you know that.” She winks at me.
No, no, no—this can’t be happening!
My mouth is suddenly dry, and it takes considerable effort to scrub the image of a naked Garrett Flint from my mind. I try to look casual, arcing a brow in confusion. “Pardon?”
“Everyone underestimates a woman’s intuition, but by God, it’s the closest thing modern man has to prophesy.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Alright, what do you know?”
“I know Garrett is terrified of whatever it is between you two.”
I swallow, anxiety needling my gut. “Between? Between us?”
“Oh, don’t you go acting like you don’t know what I’m talking about. If yer pa wasn’t so hardheaded, he woulda noticed something was up.”
“Are you mad?”
“Mad? About Garrett? Naw, but I tell ya what, you break that boy’s heart, and that’s gonna be the proverbial straw on the camel’s back. Pa loves that boy, and he’s been like a brother to Jake. And Prim—”
“I’m well aware of Prim.”
Mom looks at me sternly.
“It’s nothing. Just a casual fling. A clean transaction.”
“I don’t see that boy doing nothin’ casually.”
Of course, she thinks Garrett is some chivalrous gentleman. If only that were true.
“Mom, what would you know about men and sex? You’ve been with father forever. All men care about is sex and arm candy.”
“Maybe that’s true for the men from your neck of the woods, but us country folks are a bit simpler.”
“All men are the same.”
But I know that’s not the truth of it. Garrett put himself into debt trying to put Vicki through rehab when he could have just as easily walked away. It’s not that he’s a bad guy or a bad lover, he just doesn’t think I’m worthy of respect.
I didn’t think I could possibly feel worse than I did the other day when he left me alone in his office to wait in the car. He was cold, with an edge, lacking any warmth. I had reasoned with myself that he was just like all the others, looking for a sweet piece of ass, no strings attached.
But, no. Garrett is only like that with me.
“I think we should go back to making dinner,” I say with downcast eyes.
“Suit yerself.”
