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Because wouldn’t they be scared to cross me?

Not sure it would matter, though. They don’t fear anything. I’ve raised them that way.

I sigh, as much as a pain in the ass as they are, they were also getting close to leaving.

Just a couple more years for them.

If I was being honest, I was the loneliest I’d ever been, knowing my kids were soon out of the nest.

“Hey mom,” he says through the receiver.

“Hey, Baby…” I coo. “How are you settling into your new apartment?” He’d just moved out of the dorms and into his own place. I was proud of him.

“It’s going well,” he chuckles. “I don’t have any condiments in the fridge.”

I snicker. “Want me to send someone out to get you some things?”

“No,” he groans. “I told you, Mom, I want to do it myself.”

I nod. One of the hardest things about raising independent children is the fact that they need you a little less everyday. Kind of makes you think twice.

Exchanging a pleasantry or two, and talking about his classes was probably the highlight of my night. And that in and of itself was enough to make me feel more than just a little pathetic.

Sure, it’s normal to miss your kids. But since when has my entire existence been based around them?

“Mom!” Guilia shrieks. I cringe almost immediately, holding my mug tightly in the palm of my hand.

Even queens need a minute to wake up. “My soccer shirt!” She screams. I roll my eyes and fall to the side, careful not to spill my coffee. “You didn’t wash it!” I can hear her voice getting closer and I lay against the couch seat and groan. “Mom!” She calls again.

“I forgot…” I sigh. Truth is, we live in the penthouse of my hotel and club. We have the same maid staff that the rest of the hotel has. I didn’t do any of the laundry and rarely did the cleaning. That’s not really my thing anymore.

I don’t have the time.

“You always forget!” She whines.

I sit up and narrow my eyes at her. “Don’t whine…” I warn.

She takes a deep breath. Her long brown hair cascades beautifully over her shoulders as she combs her fingers through it and pulls roughly. A strangled groan bursts from her lips.

“Guilia!” I firmly snap. “Just leave it and I’ll have Miranda do it!”

“Why can’t you just be a normal mom!”

“Oh,” I pipe, sitting up fully and setting my coffee mug down. “I’m sorry I own hotels and bars and am a full-fledged business woman that provides you with the money toplay soccerand anything else you want!”

“That’s not all you do…” she mutters under her breath and stomps away.

I lean back and growl. Why are teenagers so annoying?! And what the hell did she mean by that?

“What’s that?” I call after her.

“You’re also the one that royally pisses me off!”

“Language!” I bellow, although I was the pot calling the kettle black. “You have ten minutes! You too, Emma!”

“She’s already gone!” Guilia calls in a snarky voice. “You’d know that if you listened to her last night at dinner!”

It’s crazy, really.