Her eyebrows furrowed together as she tried to determine why my tone sounded so sugary, like a boyfriend. “Sorry, she’s had a rough day, ain’t that right, princess?”
She blinks and scrunches her eyebrows together.
Okay, so she wasn’t picking up what I was putting down, so it's time to make myself clear. “You can put the rest on this card,” I say as I toss my credit card on the counter.
“Oh no, no I-”
“You know my money is your money, babe.” I try to sound as natural as possible. “Besides, you always make it up to me later.” I flashed her a wink, but she wasn’t doing the best job of playing along. I leaned down over the counter, covering one side of my mouth with my hand and whispered to the clerk, “I think that time of the month is coming.”
The clerk giggled and I felt a swat on the side of my shoulder.
“I heard that, and no it’s not.”
“Then you must be hangry, I’ll go home and feed you once we are done here princess.”
I watch as she folds her arms over her chest. I know she was pissed but I was enjoying myself. Haven’t felt this kind of joy in a while.
“Here you are.” The lady hands me the small white bag of medicine.
“Thank you,” I tell the clerk, “C’mon along princess,” I say as I guide Mel out of the store, intertwining my arm around hers.
“You didn’t have to do that,” is the first thing she says when we get outside.
“I think the correct response is thank you. I know there are a lot of liberals in California, but surely they taught you basic manners. And you’re welcome.”
“I didn’t ask for your help.” She says in a dismissive tone.
“True, but I don't feel like taking you to the hospital again, not under my watch, because I'm away from my business, which means I’m losing time and money. So, accept the favor and let’s move on.”
“What happened to calling me babe?” She taunts.
“I’ll call you a lot more if you don’t wipe that smug look off your face.”
She scoffed; she was kinda cute when she was annoyed. “I have to stop at the restaurant on the way home before I drop you off at your place.”
“Just fucking great,” she says throwing her hands in the air.
I did feel a little sorry for the girl. Even though she was twenty-one it was like she was trapped in a twelve-year-old mindset. It didn’t make sense that she couldn’t just call her mom for help, or go back home. What piqued my suspicion more was she's at a place where she has no intention of getting better. Well, she didn’t until today. I’m hoping she’ll care a little more about her health after the news she received.
“If it helps, until you figure it out, I can take you to work. It’s not a big deal since the lake house is not far from the restaurant and it’s on the way there.”
“No, that’s fine, I’ll just ask Abigail. I don’t like driving alone in cars with men. Especially men who keep doing me favors.” She used her fingers to signal quotation marks.
“You’re about to drive with me now.” I raised an eyebrow at her.
“Ya, because I have no choice, and I'm too exhausted to fight with you.” she says before opening the door and plopping her butt on my driver’s seat.
I lean my head back, and close my eyes, sucking in the fresh air to calm my nerves, before getting in the car with this stubborn girl and drive off.
Pulling up to the restaurant I say, “Wait in the car.”
“Why can’t I go inside?”
“Do you just want to argue because I told you to wait in the car?”
She pulls out her phone as she flops her shoes up on my dashboard. “Whatever.” She starts scrolling through her phone and I’m just grateful she isn’t putting up a fight like she normally does.
Walking inside the restaurant, I scan the back for my mom, when I don’t see her I walk out to the main floor. She’s been here way too long and needs to go home.
