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Gabi tapped a finger on her chin. “Isn’t that the guy you work with?”

She nodded. “He’s off at college now.”

“Yet he calls you every night?”

“He’s a little lonely and homesick.”

“Makes sense,” Gabi said. “Are you seeing him then?”

She thought back to their kiss on the beach, his hands on her skin, the feel of his lips branded on her neck. “You could say that.”

“And you’re being safe?”

She felt her cheeks flush. “We—we haven’t—”

Gabi waved her off. “You can tell me when you’re ready. As long as you promise me you’ll make smart choices.”

She softened at that. It was a command, and in any other circumstance, Rory might have come back with a retort to brush her mother off. But, for some odd reason, she liked having Gabi boss her around. It meant she cared, that what was going on in Rory’s life right now mattered to her.

“I promise,” she answered.

Gabi nodded, staring back at her daughter, her face shifting from concerned parent to guilt in a matter of seconds. A look she knew all too well.

“What?” she asked. “Just spit it out.”

“How’d you know something was up?”

“Because I’m your daughter, and I always know when you’re about to drop a bomb on me.”

Gabi visibly winced. “I—okay. You’re not going to like it.”

“Tell me.”

“I have to work on Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

She knew it wasn’t biologically possible, but at that moment, she felt her heart fall from her chest and land in her belly, like a shriveled-up, lifeless rock.

Apparently, her facial expression was telling enough, because a millisecond later, Gabi was scooting over and reaching out to grab her hands. Rory yanked them away, standing up from the couch.

Tears were already falling down Gabi’s cheeks. “They’re paying me triple, sweetie. Between that and the tips, I’ll walk home with almost a grand both nights. Maybe more.”

She took a long, deep breath to calm herself down, just like Vanessa taught her. “What about Grandma and Grandpa?”

“They booked a cruise,” Gabi answered softly. “So I thought—”

“You thought you might as well take advantage of it,” she interrupted, finishing the sentence for her. “Unbelievable. First the game, now this.”

“Please, sweetie, talk to me.”

She threw up her hands. “What’s there to say, huh? Actually, how about this. This is what I get for believing for one second that you would choose me over money.”

“Rory, it is not about the money,” Gabi said, standing up. “You know it’s not.”

“Sorry—my future,” she said, on a rampage. She knew she should bite her tongue, but she’d never been good at that, anyway. So, she just let it all out. “Don’t you think I’m going to hate being in college knowing that it ruined any chance of a relationship we might’ve had? Do you really think I’m going to like it when all is said and done?”

That shut her up. Gabi stood there, mouth opening and closing, but no words came out.

“You know what, enjoy your two grand, do what you want with it,” she said. “I’m going to bed, and I’ll make sure to keep it down tonight.”