I carefully get out of bed and grab some clean clothes before my shower. But as I dig through my drawers, I realize I don’t have anything nice to wear.
Bennett and I are supposed to be going on a date. Fuck. I can’t wear my everyday clothes. I mean, I could, but shouldn’t this be special or something?
If I take a quick shower now, I could head down to the mall.
Deciding that was what I was going to do, I grab something to wear for now and quickly go shower.
Once I’m done, I head out and start walking downtown.
It’s a nice day today. A little chilly, but nothing my hoodie can’t handle. I have a smile on my face and a pep in my step for the first time in a long time.
I’m excited, but also nervous. This is Bennett we’re talking about. I used to hang out with him all the time. But this is different. He’s not my best friend anymore, he’s my boyfriend.
As if the universe can sniff out my happiness, I get a call. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I frown when I see the number on the screen.
“Mom?” I answer.
“Easton!” She sounds way too cheerful, acting as if this wasn’t the first time we talked in months. “How's my baby boy?”
Baby boy? Really? Since when did she care?
“I’m fine. Why? What's up?”
“Can’t a mother just call her son?” she asks, sounding hurt.
Yes. Mothers call their sons all the time. Mine, however, does not. Something is either wrong or she needs something.
“Yes. I guess.”
“How’s school? I heard you had a new job?”
I come to a stop, brows furrowing. “How did you know about that?”
“Oh, you know, some of your father’s friends saw you there.”
Of course they did.
“It’s a good job,” I tell her.
“Wonderful!” she says. “I’m so happy.”
Yeah. I'm so happy.
“What’s really going on, Mom?”
She’s quiet on the phone for a moment. “You see, your father lost his job again.”
My shoulders slump as I close my eyes, letting out a defeated breath. “How much?”
“It’s not much.”
“How much, Mom?” Anger and frustration fill me.
This is a game we’ve played before. This isn’t the first time my parents, the ones who were supposed to be taking care of me, came to me to get them out of a bind.
Where do you think most of my paychecks from the job I had in high school went?
Dad would either smoke, drink, or gamble all the rent and bill money away.
