My face burns. “What? No! It’s not like that.”
“Don’t lie to me, June Ann. I know what I saw.” She looks around at the destruction. “Did he do this?”
“Mom, stop.” I press the heels of my hands against my eyes. “Someone broke into my apartment. Journey’s here to make sure I’m safe.”
She throws her arm out. “From what? There’s nothing left to come back for.”
That hits its mark, and I flinch.
“Why are you here?” I ask, desperate to get her out of here.
She taps her foot. “I need the rent money.”
I stare at her in disbelief. “Rent money? Mom, look around! Someone destroyed everything I own! I can’t give you any money now.”
Her eyes narrow to slits. “What do you mean you can’t give it to me now? You told me you would. I need that money, June. After everything I’ve done for you?—”
“Done for me?” I cut her off, my voice rising. “What exactly have you done for me, Mom? Besides blame me for Dad leaving? Besides make me feel unwanted my entire life?”
“Boo-fucking-who,” she spits. “You didn’t have it that bad, June Ann.”
Didn’t have it that bad? I had to beg the neighbors for food and tampons. Most of my clothes came from the lost and found at school.
“It’s no wonder your father left. You were always such a burden.”
“That’s enough.”
We both turn to see Journey standing in the doorway, his expression thunderous. I didn’t even hear him come back in.
My mother’s eyebrows shoot up. “Excuse me?”
“I said that’s enough.” Journey steps into the apartment, positioning himself between me and my egg donor. “You need to leave.”
“Who the hell do you think you are?” she sputters.
Journey’s voice drops low. “I’m the man who’s telling you to get the fuck out.”
Virginia’s face goes red. “June Ann, are you going to let him speak to me like that?”
I stare at the floor, unable to meet her eyes. “Maybe you should go, Mom.”
“Fine,” she snaps, grabbing her purse. “Don’t come crying to me when he uses you up and throws you away like the rest of them do.” She storms to the door, pausing to look back at me. “Like father, like daughter.”
The door slams behind her, and Journey flips the lock.
I wrap my arms around myself, mortification washing over me in waves. I can’t believe Journey had to witness that, I can’t believe I was kissing him moments before she showed up. I can’t believe any of this is happening.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, still staring at the floor.
“Don’t,” Journey says, his voice rough. “Don’t apologize for her.”
I look up to find him watching me, his expression unreadable.
“She’s wrong, you know,” he says, stepping closer. “That woman doesn’t know shit about you.”
Something inside me breaks open and walls come crumbling down in the face of his quiet certainty.
“How do you know?” My voice cracks on the question.
