“Okay, well, it’s tonight. And I’mnotgoing alone.”
“Why did you wait this long to remind me?”
“Honestly?” he asks, eyes wide like he’s shocked at my question. “I was fine letting the day go by. I don’t really give a flying fuck about her birthday. But Wrinkley here insisted we stage an intervention and it’s as good a reason as any to get you out of this goddamn pig pen. So wash your… parts and put some clothes on, so we can go. Preferably clean ones.”
“I told you not to call me that, asshole,” Wrinley mutters through gritted teeth.
Fuck my life. Of all the things I could be doing, celebrating my mother is at the very bottom of my list. But, while I’d never admit to Axel that he’s right, I do kind of smell.
“Fine. Give me an hour.” I roll my eyes at them both for good measure, because I don’t want them to misconstrue my cooperation for compliance. This is conflict avoidance 101 at best. If I go, I’ll at least appease mother to keep her content and off my back for a little while longer.
“Tell me again why I can’t drive myself?”
Axel practically shoved me into his truck and Wrinley fucked off to god knows where.
“Because,littlesister.” It’s not lost on me how he emphasizes the word little. Such a dick. “I don’t trust you to actually show up at this point. Even dinner with Mom has to be better than you fucking sulking in your goddamn bed for days on end.”
“That’s what you think,” I mutter under my breath.
We pull up to our childhood home moments later, and dread sinks low in my belly. We never did talk about Ryker’s accusations after that night, but this will be the first time I’ve seen her since she found out about him and I. I know I’ve probably hurt her, but it’s not like I planned any of this. The heart wants what it wants, and all that.
“Get out of the fucking truck, Arabella,” my brother orders. Jesus, when did he get so fucking bossy.
As we approach the front door, I pause to check my outfit. A habit I think I’ve had all my life. I don’t really desire to poke the bear today, so I went with baggy everything, since she’s always criticizing me when I wear anything form-fitting. I pull at thehem of my baggy sweater to move it down and cover my ass, because she’s always hated it most when I showed off my biggest asset.
Tears start to form behind my eyes as I remember how much Ryker loved my ass.
Everything she hated about me, he loved. Loves? I don’t know anymore.
“Hey,” Axel reaches out, placing a hand gently on my shoulder. “It’s going to be okay, but don’t let her see you cry. She’ll grab on to any weakness you show her, so suck it back in before we go in there.”
I shoot him a quick glance and a nod, because he’s right. I can’t show her my cards. So I wipe my tears with my sleeve and we walk inside.
“Can you please tell her dinner is ready?” I ask Axel as I start setting the table. My brother can have that fun job, since he’s basically useless in the kitchen. I love how we made this plan–well I made the plan–to cook her dinner, when I’m the only one that did all the work.
When we got here, she sulked around the house in “pity party” mode, like someone kicked her non-existent cat.
Debbie Downer, party of one!
Despite her shitty attitude, she hasn’t brought Ryker up, and for that, I’m grateful.
Eventually, Axel sent her outside to stew in her own misery until dinner was ready.
“Heads up, she’s on her way,” Axel warns. Concern is written all over his face as he helps put food on the table.
My anxiety is through the roof. I both smell her nauseating perfume and hear her aggressive footsteps before I see her, but I can’t bring myself to acknowledge her or even look at her.
I’ve never felt more pathetic than I do right now.
“Nice of you to dress up for the occasion, Arabella.” Really?
I let out a long breath, but I bite my tongue in time for Axel to speak up. “Happy Birthday, Mom.” Smooth.
“Thank you, son.” Her voice is sickly sweet and it makes me want to vomit. She’s never paid him any real attention, but of course he’s getting all the love right now. She’s trying to prove a point. The point that I’ve hurt her so deeply that she can’t even afford me any real affection. Not that she ever has.
Taking a deep breath, I decide to be the bigger person… for tonight.
For her. For her birthday.
