Mom lowered her voice, most likely to avoid anyone overhearing. “Are you doing this because you’re upset with me? Because you shouldn’t jeopardize your future over inviting a boy to bake cookies.”
I flapped my arm in frustration. “It was more than that, Mom. This was genuinely about wanting to spend the night with Harvey. I asked because I respect you. I just wish you would respect me and what I do. You don’t even respect my room. Part of me is scared I’ll come home and my flowers will be missing.”
She took a beat. “They’re still here.” Did she have to check?
She didn’t address anything else. Then again, she never was the greatest with feelings. My tears and worries were often met with tea and being told not to cry, that it would all get better soon, and oh didn’t I want to spend time with the family, becausethatwould cheer me up.
I sighed. “It would be stressful to have to drive home before my shift, though. Maybe I can rain check with Harvey.”
We’d have other nights, wouldn’t we? I only had a few days left to earn money doing what made me happy. We wouldn’t really get much sleep before I had to go home and get ready for work.
One day, though, maybe we’d be home together.
I placed my palm on the cool window.
One day, soon.
35
Tomorrow
I slid into the driver’s seat, my fingers shaking as I switched the radio station from Christmas carols to classic rock for my boyfriend. I didn’t want Harvey to be mad at me. But I didn’t see a way to make our sleepover happen without sacrificing work and sleep. “Hey. So, I’m going to drive you to your car in the employee lot,” I said.
Harvey tilted his head. “Are you coming home with me?”
My lungs tightened as if a string of tinsel was pulled too hard around them. I flashed Harvey an apologetic smile. “Not this time.”
He furrowed his brow. “Wait, really?”
I looked over my shoulder to reverse out of the space. “I have work in the morning.”
“That wasn’t an issue before you spoke to your mother.” He crossed his arms and slunk down in the seat, his knees cramped against the dashboard. “What, does she hate me? I came to your house. I wore a sweater, baked cookies, brought you flowers–”
“It was very sweet.” I rubbed his leg for reassurance.
He shook his head, his eyes downcast and stormy. “She still thinks I’m a creep?”
“No." If anything, she thought I was stubborn and naive. "It’s nothing personal, trust me. I know your parents are ‘mild’ by comparison, but my family is very involved, always trying to push towards ‘better things.’ For me, that means school and a job with a salary.”
“And a wholesome guy without piercings?” He glowered. “One who never made you cry, I’m guessing?”
I tried not to roll my eyes. “Harvey, they know what you mean to me. They’re not going to hate you or try to break us up unless you actively try to hurt me.” I flexed my fingers around the steering wheel. I wished Zack had never said anything to him about my mini breakdown. After all, Harvey had every right to reject me, same as I did to cry about it. And we were together now. We were happy. It wasn’t like he mistreated me.
Harvey’s voice wavered as he picked at his lip ring. “Why’d you call her, Shelby?”
I shrugged, my heart heavy with sludge. “It felt like the right thing to do. I like to be open, when I can be.” At least if I told her what was going on, she wouldn’t be up half the night worrying. Or tracking us down.
“But you knew she wouldn’t want you coming home with me. Were you trying to find a way out of it?”
“No, of course not.” I would’ve told him if I didn’t want to go to his place.
He ran his fingers across his mouth and looked out the window.
Why was he stressing out?
I frowned. “Today is about work. Celebrating yours and preparing for the wind-down of mine. Besides, all my things are back home. I'll pack a bag for my car and sleep over another time."
"Won't you still need to call your mom?" He scowled.
