I could hear Ryan grinding his teeth from how tightly his jaw was clenched.
“I’m not competing,” I said as calmly as I could. “I just want to spend time with you guys. I’ve barely gotten to see you two and I’ve been here for months.”
“I’m just slammed at the salon,” Mom offered with an apologetic smile. “But we’ll have all the time you want to chat when you let me do your hair. Did you decide on a color yet?”
“Actually I might just have you blend the roots or something. I think I might let it grow out a bit.”
Mom’s spirits lifted. “I think that’ll look nice. It’ll give you more time to decide what you want to do next.”
“Ew. Who actually wants to be a brunette?” Amber said with a derogatory laugh.
My sister knew exactly how to push my buttons. When we were kids, she would tease me relentlessly for having boring hair, when she and my mom were bubbly blondes.
Amber was the reason I had started dying my hair every color of the rainbow whenever the mood struck. I didn’t want to be like her, but I didn’t want to be boring.
“I’ve always had a thing for brunettes,” Ryan said with a wink and flirtatious nudge.
“Aaaand my appetite’s gone,” Amber said as she wiped her mouth with a napkin.
“We have dessert,” I offered. “Just cookies and ice cream, but they’re homemade and really good.”
Ryan must have heard the desperation in my voice, because he was quick to drape his arm around my shoulder.
“Have you decided where you’re going to travel to next?” Mom asked. “Or are you going to stick around here a little longer?”
Amber stuck her tongue out and pretended to gag.
“You can go,” Ryan said, as if he was simply asking for someone to pass the veggie tray, but I was so startled that I choked on my bite.
Amber was stunned that someone had actually dismissed her.
My mother didn’t know what to think.
But Ryan just picked up another chip, dunked it in the French onion dip, and popped it in his mouth. “You’re welcome to stay, but you’re not going to act like a child.”
“And just who do you think you are?” Amber said, aghast.
“I’m the boyfriend,” Ryan said.
“The fake boyfriend,” Amber spat. “I know all about your little dare.”
“So does most of the internet,” Ryan countered. “It’s not a secret. Now, we both want you to stay, but the choice is yours.”
“I’m leaving,” she huffed as she stormed to the door.
Mom looked like she wanted to melt into the floor. “We drove together,” she said instead of directly telling me she was leaving too.
I wanted time with my mom. I just didn’t want to have to fight for it. “I can give you a ride home,” I offered.
“Thanks for having us over,” Mom said as she dabbed her mouth with a napkin. “I should drive her home. Call the salon and schedule an appointment. We can chat then.”
The numbness came back as the door opened and closed.
“Wills—”
I didn’t bother moving or even looking at Ryan.
“Shit,” he muttered. “I’m sorry. I fucked up. I should have kept my mouth shut. Look, I’ll go over to their house and apologize.”
