A laugh breaks through the receiver, “I’m here in Los Angeles!I came to surprise you and see your last show.I hope that’s okay...”
“Of course, it’s okay,” I quickly reassure her.“I’m happy you’re here.Are...you...alone?”I hate asking, but also, I know myself well enough now to know I don’t really like surprises.
“Yep!Alone!I’m staying at the...hold on.”There’s a rough sound of the phone being pulled from her ear and a couple pressed buttons.My mom mumbles something as she reads and it’s almost like a tap on the shoulder.She’s getting older.My heart sinks.
“Okay, are you there?”
“Yeah, Ma, I’m here.”
“Okay, I have a week’s stay at the Ramada downtown.”
“I’m really happy you’re here, Mom.Can I come pick you up?Get lunch or something?”By the sound of her voice, I can tell I caught her off guard.
“Yeah, that would be nice, Son.Only if you’re not busy, of course.”
“Not at all.Let me jump in the shower and I can be at your hotel in an hour or so?Do you know how to order a car from your phone?”I ask, pinching the phone between my cheek and shoulder and using the other hand to flip on the hot water.
“I don’t, but Tim said he would help me.”
“Tim?”I freeze between the shower and my hamper.“Like...my Tim?”Literally have never referred to him as “mine,” but there’s a first for everything, and his new popularity deems the possessiveness necessary.
“Oh, it’s here.Gotta run, honey.See you in an hour.Love you, bye.”Click.
I throw the phone on my bed before tossing my shorts and shirt to the hamper.I am like a week overdue for laundry, and it shows, spilling out from every side.I step into the water, mind still circling the name Tim.It has to be him, but why would he be here?He would tell me if he was coming for the last show, right?I need to get them tickets.
From the beginning, Jan has been very vocal on letting her know in advance if we need seats for friends or family.I count the days before the next show in my mind.Hopefully three days is enough notice because I’m not going to have my mom fly this far and not be able to get in.But Tim...I wish he’d texted.On top of all this, we’re supposed to receive an email today with the final song selections.
After what has to be the quickest shower of my life, I twist off the water, pull my towel from the hook, and wrap it around my waist.I step one foot out of the shower when something catches my eye in the mirror.
“Dang it, Gabby!You scared the you-know-what out of me!”I yell.
“Sorry, not sorry.”She walks further into the steamy bathroom.“Where are you off to?”she asks innocently, pulling herself up to sit on the bathroom counter.
“What?What are you doing in here?”I snap, holding one hand on the knot of my towel.
She laughs, holding up her ring finger.The gesture sends my eyes into the back of my head.
“When are you supposed to return that thing anyways?”I ask, watching her smile collapse into a thin line.
“Look, I know your wires seem to cross whenever Tate’s around, so for the sake of the show, I think it’s best to wait to see her.”
“Tate’s here?”
“You didn’t know?”
I shake my head.“I’m going to meet my mom for lunch.She’s in town for the finale.”I move past her into the closet.I pluck a white T-shirt off of a hanger, sliding it over my head.Forgotten water droplets cling to the new outer layer showing up in tiny spots around my chest.
“Did you make a reservation?Should I come?”
I’m happy to be in the privacy of my closet because I can’t control the expression on my face.“You want to come eat with me and my mom?”
“No, I don’t, but I think that would really drive home the message that we are a thing.”
“You mean the thing that we’re not?”
She comes to hover in the doorway, her expression annoyed.
“Gabriella, I’m trying to get dressed...”
