“He still shouldn’t talk to you like that.I wish you would have said something.”
“So, you could do what?Punch the guy?”She makes a face, sticking her tongue out like it’s a joke, like I wouldn’t.“It’s over, it’s fine.I’ll deal with the consequences of my actions should they arrive.”
Her folks’ Airbnb is about three stop signs away, but I’m just not done yet.I yank the steering wheel, pulling the car towards the nearest curb, our shoulders kissing in the process.
“Whoa, was there a squirrel or something?”
Laughter booms out of me, making her smile.“I’m sorry to tell you...I wouldn’t veer for a squirrel.Maybe a deer.But definitely not a squirrel.”
I watch her as she turns from me to the front windshield, the traffic lights bathing her in green, yellow, and then red.
“Alright, then what gives?”She turns back to me.
“I’m just not done yet.”
Everything that follows is purely audible.The click of the seat belt, the squeak of the center console under my weight, the smallest of sounds that escapes her lips when I press into her.
***
“Levi, breakfast!”Mymom’s muffled yell startles me awake.I roll to my back, sliding my hands up and behind my head, looking at the same ceiling fan.I’m still so mad at my mom.I honestly don’t know what to even say to her this morning.The good news is, I won’t be here long.I have a full day with Tate.I swing my covers off and pull myself from the bed.A soft tap tap tap sounds against my door.
“Yeah,” I croak out.
“Can I come in?”
I pull the blanket back over my lower half.“Yeah.”
The door opens slowly and just enough for Mom’s body to fit through.I hate talking feelings.I hate arguing with my mom.I press my hands into my sleepy face again.
“Levi, I messed up, didn’t I?”Her voice is velvet in my cobalt-tinted room.I let out a breath, moving my hands down.I look up at her.Her face is pinched and red, and I know she’s been crying.
“Yeah, Mom, that wasn’t great.I wish I would have had some notice.A heads-up.”
She comes and sits down next to me on the bed.My eyes go to the ring on that finger.“You’re right.I’m sorry.When your dad left, I didn’t know what to do, how to operate.In a lot of ways, I still don’t.And I hurt you because of it.The last person I would ever want to hurt.”The tears break and so does my wall of anger.
I loop my arm around her frail back and pull her in.“I’m fine, Mom.Don’t worry about me.”
“That’s what moms do, Levi.We worry.But I know you’re strong.You don’t need me looking out for you.”Her graying-blonde hair is pushed out of place against my chest, and I find myself smoothing it down.
“When’s the big day?”
She rears back at the question, grabbing her left hand and twisting the ring in place.“I’m not sure there will be one.”
“Why is that?He seems to really care about you.”
“Yeah, he does, but you come first, and I need you to be okay with it.Okay with him.”
I scratch along my jawline.“Why do I need to be okay with him?I’m not marrying him.”
This pulls a watery laugh from her.“I know that, but I’d hoped after the show you would come back.Hang around a bit.”
“Mom, if you like the guy and you think he’s solid...”I find I have to push out the last part of that sentence.“Then you have my blessing.Whatever that’s worth.”
She reaches up, grabs my head, and pulls it to her, laying a kiss on my temple before standing.“Well, enough of that.”She smiles.“Breakfast is ready.”
“Oh, I should have told you.I’m going out to breakfast.And actually, I probably won’t be here much today and tomorrow.”
“Oh?Where are you going?”She stops at the threshold of the door.
