“Mom, if you’d let me?—”
“I knew you would do this. You just wanted to control me, didn’t you? Wanted to make me feel like I make terrible decisions. I knew it. Your father used to do this all the time.”
“Mom!”
“What? Did you take out a loan that you’re now going to blame me for?”
“No, Mom, I’m?—”
“Then how are you letting this happen?” She interrupts again, and my patience crumbles.
“Nick’s father is paying for it,” I hiss, enjoying her wide-eyed stare as I turn and hurry back to the living room. That should keep her occupied for a few days.
29
ELIJAH
“Holy shit, Elijah, I was about to call the National Guard or something!” Buster yells in my ear as I settle into the back of the taxi taking me back to my hotel.
“Why?”
“Why? You know it’s usually me who goes off on a binge, right? I’m the one who goes no contact, not you.”
“What can I say? I’m making this an equal relationship.”
“I’m going to kill you.”
“Buster.”
“No, I’m going to do it. This time, I mean it. I’m too young and too pretty to spend nights worrying about you. Do you know what this does to my skin? I’m getting wrinkles, Elijah. Honest to God wrinkles.”
“I hate to break it to you, but that’s not news.”
“Okay, I’m really going to kill you. I know how to make it look like an accident. I watch a lot of true crime.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Okay, I don’t, but it’s usually on in the background, and I learn.”
“How, exactly?”
“Osmosis.”
“Fucking hell.” Tired laughter rushes past my lips and I tilt my head back into the headrest, closing my eyes. “Buster, I’m fine, okay? I was just busy.”
“Busy? I linked the GPS on your car and you didn’t move forhours.”
“I know. I was with someone, but don’t worry. I called someone to pick up my car.”
“Hold on, back up.” Buster somehow sounds like he’s even closer to the phone than before. “With someone?”
“Mmhmm.”
“Who?”
“What is this, twenty questions?”
“Wrinkles, Elijah! Wrinkles!”
