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“Mike does have that fancy hot tub,” she said, wrapping her robe tighter around her. “Might make the trip.”
“Where’s Phil today?” I asked, pulling down another stack of books. “He’s usually on the sofa by now.”
There was a pause. “Phil got a DWI last night.”
I stopped to stare at her.
“It’s his third one. I didn’t bail him out. He shoulda known better.”
“Mom…”
“I know, I know. You told me.” She sighed.
“And you’re still moving with him?”
“It was my fault. I was supposed to pick him up, and Gary kept me over.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “Aren’t you tired, Mom?”
“Well I’m not happy about it. He’s gonna lose his license this time though. He’ll learn his lesson. Sometimes they gotta hit rock bottom.”
I shook my head and stared at the cover of the book on the top of my stack. And when would Mom hit her rock bottom? How many of these men would it take?
I was glad I was leaving. I was glad I had the choice to leave. I felt like I was outrunning a flood.
“Mom…” I looked at her. “Being alone is hard, but so is hating your life because you’re not.”
She held my gaze, but she didn’t get to reply. Mike came back in. “This one?” he asked, nodding at a box.
“Yeah.”
He picked it up effortlessly and floated it out.
Mom watched him go. Then she leaned in. “You’re happy, right?” she whispered.
“Yes.” I sniffed. “Why?”
“I don’t know. I just worry. What does Chris think about you two moving in?”
“Nothing? Why would he think something?”
“I just think about what you said that night,” she whispered. “About him maybe having a crush on you.”
“I did not say that,” I said, my voice low. “I mean, I did but I clarified. We are friends. There’s nothing going on there. And anyway, I didn’t tell him yet.”
“You didn’t tell him? The man doesn’t know you’re moving?”
“I haven’t seen him.”
Mike came back in and we dropped it.
“Hey, do you know anyone with a wholesale club membership?” I asked him.
“My mom,” he said, picking up another box.
“Oh, I don’t want to ask your mom,” I said.
He stopped in the doorway. “Why not?”
