“Why?” Iinterrupted.
“Because I can’t figure out how to send a pic while I’m on the phone. Daniel insists it’seasy,but–”
“Why did you set a room up for me? I told you, I’m not moving inwithyou.”
“You also told me you were going to stay on campus this year, but I happen to know that’s a lie. Stay with us. It’s closer to the school so you won’t have to make that long driveanymore.”
I rolled my eyes at her words, even though I knew she couldn’t see me. “Anythingelse?”
“I’ll level with you, Michelle. I found this article online that said I might be entitled to more money from your father if you were living with me while going to school. I know he threatened to cut you off. How about you quit that crappy bookstore, come live with me, and I’ll promise to pay you a percentage of whatever I end up getting. It'swin-win."
Money. All of this fake maternal concern came down to money. And not even actual money, but the possibility of it. I felt like I was going tobesick.
“Dad let me quit.” I refused to offer up the detailsofwhy.
“He did that just tospiteme.”
"Oh,please."
"You don't know your father likeIdo."
“Goodbye,mother.”
She was saying something else as I hung up, but I couldn’t make it out. My mind was moving too fast to process her words. My mom only wanted me for money. I should have known there was a reason for her sudden appearance in my life. I hated the way she made me feel, like I was only worth it if she benefitedsomehow.
My phone started ringing again. She just had to get the last word in, and for some inexplicable reason, Iansweredit.
“What?” No response. “You called me, so go ahead and finish what you hadtosay.”
The voice on the other end cleared their throat, but even in that small sound, it was obvious it was not my mom on theotherline.
“If this is abadtime…”
“Crap, Rainier. I’m so sorry. I thought you weresomeoneelse."
"I'm glad that's not how you plan on greeting me fromnowon."
"Did you really think that's how I was going to act afteryesterday?"
He chuckled. “I’ve actually been thinking a lot about yesterday, and I was wondering if you’d like to um… go grab a burger orsomething.”
“A burger with the vegetarian?” I asked with ascandalizedtone.
“Some annoying girl I work with insists that the burgers at The Farmhouse can turn even the strictest vegetarians. Want to help me prove her wrong?” Even over the phone, I could hear the smile in hisvoice.
“Sure. Pick me up at six,” I said with confidence and hung up the phone before I could overthink it. As soon as I did, I squealed tomyself.
I hadn’t felt this adored since…well, it had been a while. I planned to bask in it as much aspossible.
Rainier showedup at my house with two minutes to spare, and I even let him drive us to the diner in his station wagon. A memory of Julian and I fighting came to surface. I had refused to let him drive on our first date because I was too embarrassed to be seen in his piece of crap car. He was upset and called me shallow when I got into the driver’s seat of my car and refused to move. I'd won that argument, and we drove in my car from thatpointon.
Sitting in the passenger seat of Rainier’s car didn’t give me any of those same feelings. He was cute and talented, kind and funny. What did it matter what he drove? I let out a small laugh at how different I was from the girl I was even ayearago.
“What are you thinking about?” Rainier asked from the passenger seat. We were just pulling into theparkinglot.
“Just how life can change so quickly. Sometimes you don’t even know what’shappening.”
"Tell meaboutit."
