“Stella—” she starts.
“Yeah, I know, Mom. I’m eating something else,” I say snidely.
“Watch that smart mouth of yours, young lady. You definitely don’t need cake,” snarls Mom.
“I know, Mom.”
She hands me a tiny fruit cup.
“Since you brought it up, why don’t you tell us why you decided to end things with Bradley?” asks Mom—not so sweetly this time.
“I didn’t bring it up.”
“Getting snippy about your fresh fruit cup was a start if you ask me,” grumbles Mom.
“Fine, let’s get this over with then. I’m not getting back together with Bradley,” I say defiantly.
“Why in heavens name would you break up with someone like Bradley, Stella? He’s the perfect boyfriend, and he’ll be a great provider for you once he starts working at Jim’s law firm.”
There it is again.Provider. Ugh.
“I’m not looking for a ‘provider,’ Mom!”
“Of course not,” Mom barks. “You’re not thinking of anyone but yourself, young lady. Or are you expecting your father and me to support you forever? So selfish,” she mutters under her breath.
“Candy, let’s let Stella explain herself,” says my dad in his normal calming voice.
“I met someone else,” I say cautiously. I don’t want to be the one to tell them that Bradley cheated on me, and I wasn’t going to mention Alex tonight, but they’ve left me no choice here.
“Who? Who is this new person you’re seeing?” Mom asks in a disbelieving tone.
“You don’t know him. I met him in my dorm.”
“So, you’re expecting us to believe that you met another boy the first week of school and decided to dump the man you're supposed to marry for no reason?” She takes a bite of cake, making sure I notice.
“I don’t expect you to believe anything I say. You think the worst of me automatically.”
“Well, at least you understand where I’m coming from. I find it hard to believe that you could meet anyone else.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I know what she’s insinuating.
My mom sighs like explaining this to me is a chore. “You know what I'm saying. Look at yourself, Stella. Men just aren’t going to be that excited about dating someone of your, um, size. Bradley can, at least, see past all of that. Whoever this imaginary boy is, I’m sure he’ll lose interest quickly.”
I can’t do this. I need for them to know the truth. “Bradley, tell them,” I plead. I turn to look at him. I’m angry that I have to deal with this alone while he sits there and just watches. This is all his doing in the first place.
“Tell her what, sweetheart?” Bradley asks.
“Tell them about Alex,” I say nervously.
“Well, I know she’s met Alex Emerson. I'm not sure if she’s seeing him, though. He’s famous around campus, so it makes sense that she’d pickhim,” he says carefully.
“Bradley, what are you doing? Wait, I know. You’re trying to make them think I’m delusional. Well, it’s not going to work. I know my dad’ll believe me, right, Dad?”
“Oh, sweetheart… are you talking about Alex Emerson, the all-American tight end for the Wildcats? The one that’s supposed to go to the NFL next year? The one who’s won?—”
I don’t let him finish. “I cannot believe this. I really can’t. Not even my dad believes me? It’s the truth, Dad. He wants to be my boyfriend.”
I hear a scoff coming from my mom’s end of the table. That’s it! I’m going to have to tell them what actually happened here since Bradley isn’t man enough to admit it. There’s a burning behind my eyes. Hearing my dad sound almost sad that I’d make up someone like Alex does it. I clear my throat, and I start to tell them what a cheating snake Bradley is, but when he stops me in midsentence.
