Mom took a long, exaggerated breath. “You believe what you want to believe. I’m done trying with you.”
Danny let out a low chuckle. “You were done trying long before Dad died.”
“Come on, sweetheart.” Mom waved at me while scowling at Danny. “Looks like it will be just us two for lunch today.”
Danny flashed a dark grin my way. “Yeah, whatever. I’ll see you back at the house, Avery.”
“The house?” Mom’s eyes looked between the two of us.
I shot Danny a pleading glance. What had he just done?
“What is he talking about, Avery?” Mom pressed.
“Didn’t she tell you? Avery is living with me.” His grin widened.
Shit.
I closed my eyes and awaited my impending doom. Good thing I was at the cemetery. It was more efficient this way.
“Avery Ann? Explain yourself.”
My eyes shot back open.
Jesus. She was still using the middle name? What was I, six years old?
I shook my head at Danny and then reluctantly met my mother’s eyes. “Zayn and I aren’t together anymore. It was kind of sudden, and I needed a place to stay.”
Wait for it. Three … two…one.
“I told you! I told you, you shouldn’t have moved in with him!”
And there it is.
My mother loved being right just about as much as she loved to shove being wrong in your face. The fact that she didn’t care to ask why Zayn and I had broken up spoke wonders.
“Why didn’t you call me immediately? You could have moved back home. You know I have the space.”
“I didn’t want to be that far from the campus, and Danny’s house is only twenty minutes away. Fifteen if I beat traffic.” At least it wasn’t a lie, but I wasn’t about to tell her there was no way in hell I was ever going to move back in with her.
“I don’t care if he lives in the campus parking lot; you’re not living with a bunch of drug-addicted musicians.”
My mouth dropped open.
Danny threw his head back and laughed, too familiar with our mom’s ridiculous accusations.
“I will call around tomorrow and find you your own apartment, okay?” I started to shake my head, but she held up her hand and stopped me. “I’ll increase the automatic deposit to your account to make up the cost. I don’t care where it is. If you don’t want to move back with me, you need a place to yourself, away from distractions and—”
“Mom. Stop. I don’t need more money or an apartment. I’m moving in with Nina in less than two months. I’ve worked it out.”
“That’s too far away from now, and your studies are too important. Your exam is coming up. You need to focus!”
“I’m studying every day! I told you, I’ve got it under control.”
“I won’t allow it, Avery.”
“It’s not up to you.” I carefully let out the air threatening to choke me. “I’m perfectly capable of making my own decisions. I’m sick of letting you dictate everything in my life just because I’m scared of making you feel useless or unwanted. Well, congratulations, Mom. You did your job. You raised someone who is capable of taking care of herself. Two people actually, but Danny has been taking care of himself long before I started.”
She didn’t move a single muscle in her face. Her pursed lips and wild eyes had been frozen from the moment I opened my mouth. That kind of look usually scared me silent, but I could only hold so much in before I burst. Apparently, that day was today.
