“I do.”
“I don’t believe you, and you know who else won’t?” She nods toward the kitchen.
“That’s where you’re wrong.” I turn and start walking to the kitchen.
“Loyal, get back here. I didn’t mean it,” she whisper-shouts, but I ignore her.
Sami looks over and smiles when I enter the kitchen, completely unaware.
“Hey, everything okay?” she asks.
“No,Mami. It’s not.”
Her smile drops. “What happened?”
I give her the lowdown on what just occurred and watch as disbelief and then disappointment cross her face.
“I’m sorry,” I murmur to her.
“It’s not your fault.”
“Mom, whatever he’s saying is a lie,” Farrah says as she steps into the kitchen.
“Really? Because you wore a skimpy tank with no bra and booty shorts to movie night with my boyfriend. You orchestrated a way to get me out of the room. You have been nothing but mean to me about him all week. I really had hoped that you were coming around, but this was another scheme,” Sami points out.
“Mom, it’s not true.” She looks down at her feet, like she is embarrassed.
“Farrah, why? Why would you do this to me?” Sami asks, not bothering to hide the hurt in her voice.
Instinctively I reach out and rest my hand on her hip, offering her the support I know she desperately needs without overstepping.
“I wouldn’t do whatever he said to you, Mom. You know that.” Farrah actually looks guilty.
Sami raises a brow. “So you didn’t ask him if he had a friend he could set you up with and in the same breath ask if he wants you for himself? You didn’t accuse him of only being with me in hopes of getting with you?”
Farrah groans and stomps her foot as she runs her hand through her hair. “Why else would he be with you if not for me? He’s closer in age to me than he is to you. It only makes sense!”
Sami recoils into my side.
“Farrah…” she says full of hurt.
“I told you already but I’m going to say it in front of your mother: you aren’t my type, Farrah. I’ve never been into women my age or younger. If you need proof, I can make a couple calls,” I tell her.
“This is bullshit! You two shouldn’t even be together! All I’m trying to do is prove that this isn’t real and that you belong with Dad. Don’t you get that?” Farrah shouts.
My jaw clenches.
Fucking Billy.
It all circles back to him.
“Did he put you up to this?” I ask quietly, catching both women off guard.
“Wait, what? No…please tell me he didn’t, Farrah,” Sami pleads.
For a split second something that looks a whole lot like guilt crosses her face before her eyes narrow.
“No, my dad would never put me up to something. Unlike you, he’s a good man. The only one in the wrong here is my mom for bringing you into our lives.”
