by Amy Brown
Last night with her was anti-climactic. She got offended when I mentioned image being important in life, and just sort of shut down. Things were going so well up until then too. I hoped meeting my mom would make her like me more. I wanted her to see my gentler side. I thought it might lower her defenses. But it all went to shit. I had such high hopes for getting her in bed, but it was not to be.
I heard from Travis that Charity was at Smarties on Wednesday with Paula. I’d been worried she was seeing some other dude, but it was just Paula. I have to respect how she played me. She knew I thought she was seeing a guy, but she just let me stew. She’s trickier than I thought. I kind of like that.
Now that I know she was studying with Paula and not a guy, I can relax a little. I’ll reel her in carefully. Come Monday, I’ll be attentive to her again. Even if she’s standoffish, I’ll be charming. Hopefully she’ll have a long, boring, lonely weekend, and be ripe for my attentions.
I finish my shopping and head home. When I enter my mom’s room, she’s up and dressed, looking annoyed. She’s perched on the edge of the mattress, and her crutches are propped beside her. Nurse Greta is hovering, looking flushed and sweaty. When she sees me, she looks relieved.
“I’m trying to get our girl up and moving today.” Greta’s tone says that’s no easy task.
“She’s torturing me, that’s what she’s doing.” Mom scowls.
I laugh and set the bag of toiletry items I purchased on the bed. “You need to listen to Greta. You don’t want to be stuck in bed forever.”
“It hurts.” She rubs her underarms. “Using crutches is not as easy as it looks.”
“Unless you want to be bedridden, you have to use them.” I keep my tone calm. “Remember Charity said after a few days she didn’t need them anymore. But she did need them in the beginning.”
“I wish Charity was here to show me how to use them,” Mom grumbles.
“Olivia, I know how to use crutches.” Nurse Greta looks frustrated. “You’re just not listening to me.”
“I am listening.” Mom sighs. “It’s just that my underarms are throbbing.”
“You’ll get used to it. Trust me.” Greta meets my gaze. “This will be the best way to get her back to normal. It’s important to move around.”
“I agree.”
Scowling, Mom says, “I’m glad you to have it all figured out. I’m the one who has to do the work.”
“Good point. You are the one who has to do the work. Get to it, woman.” I smile, hoping to cajole my mother into a better mood.
“Mason, you don’t understand how hard it is,” she wails.
My mother’s very pampered. Her parents pampered her, and dad pampered her too. When he’s here, he still pampers her. He’s just not here very often. “Mom, you can do this. Lying around all day isn’t going to help improve your mood.”
“What does it matter if I’m up and around? I have nothing to do.”
I feel for her. “Maybe you could talk to dad again about renewing your real estate license.”
Her mouth droops. “We both know what he’ll say.”
“We need to do something.” I flick my gaze to Nurse Greta. “Greta, would you mind if I talk to my mom alone for a few minutes?”
She nods. “I need a cup of tea anyway.” She goes to the door and leaves the room.
I turn back to Mom. “Something has to change.” I’m hoping because she’s sober at the moment, we can have a rational conversation. Anytime in the past when I’ve tried to discuss her drinking, she’s shut me down or thrown a drunken tantrum. She hasn’t been able to drink anything since she fell, because she can’t get it for herself. Nurse Greta certainly wasn’t going to act as her cocktail waitress.
Her gaze flickers. “What do you mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean. Your drinking has been out of control for years. Falling down the stairs has made it impossible for me to ignore it anymore.”
“Excuse me?” She scowls. “Who are you to lecture me?”
“I’m you’re concerned son. Do you have any idea how upsetting it was for me to find you at the bottom of the stairs?” My stomach clenches at the traumatic memory. “Next time, you might not be so lucky.”
“I just slipped. It could’ve happened to anyone.” Her tone is defensive.
“You were drunk. You could’ve died. That’s not okay. This has gone on long enough. I know you’re lonely, and you feel neglected by Dad. But, destroying your liver, or falling down the stairs and dying isn’t the answer.”
She pulls her brows together. “What is?”
I’m nervous to tell her how I truly feel, but the last few years have been tumultuous. I can’t just be quiet and watch my mother destroy herself because of Dad. “I think you need to give Dad an ultimatum.”
Looking surprised, she asks, “What kind of ultimatum? You mean threaten him with divorce?”
I shake my head. “No. I know you won’t divorce him.”
“Of course I won’t. I love him.” Her voice wobbles.
“I know. But he’s got to wake up. You want to work. You like to work. He needs to respect that. He needs to respect the fact that you’re not a figurine on a shelf. You put up with him never being here, and I don’t know why. But that’s your choice. However, you loved selling real estate. You were really good at it too. He’s being selfish worrying more about his image, than how sitting home all day long affects you.”
“I don’t think he’ll change his mind,” she says softly.
“He will if you force him to. Stand up for yourself. Don’t let him push you around.” My voice is gruff because I’m tired of watching him destroy her. “He has no idea how bad your drinking is, or how unhappy you are. You shouldn’t hide that from him.”
“He’s here so rarely, I don’t want to be a drag when he is here.”
“You guys fight constantly when he’s home. Besides, telling him what you need to be happy doesn’t make you a drag. He should care what makes you happy as much as he cares about his businesses.” I feel frustrated because she won’t speak up for herself. I can’t do it for her.
“I understand why he doesn’t like me to work.” She frowns, and glances at the crutches. “But I do worry the drinking isn’t helping anymore.”
I give an incredulous laugh. “Helping? No, it’s most certainly not helping.”
“We used to have a lot of fun together,” she says quietly. “I don’t know if we can ever go back to that.”
“I think if you were happier you two wouldn’t fight so much.”
“Maybe.”
“What can it hurt to talk to him again? I’ll talk to him too, if you think that might help.” I haven’t tried petitioning for my mom in ages. Maybe it’s time I did.
“I don’t want you and him to argue.” She bites her bottom lip.
“I don’t want to argue with him. I just want to discuss things.”
She gives a bitter laugh. “That’s how all my arguments with him start.”
“Well that has to change. Everything has to change.” I sit beside her, and put my arm around her shoulders. “I’m not going to lose you because he’s stubborn, and has antiquated ideas about a woman’s role in the home.”
“Can you imagine if I could work again?” Her cheeks are flushed, and she looks excited. “I get so bored with the luncheons and the charity events. I don’t mind doing some of them, but I need more in my life.”
“Of course you do. You deserve more.”
“Speaking of Charity, why don’t you bring her around again?”
I’m thrown by how swiftly she changes the subject, but a little thrill goes through me at the mention of Charity’s name. “I will.”
“You were right, she is a unique girl.”
“So you liked her?” I already know the answer, but I like hearing her say it. I don’t think I’ve ever brought a girl home who she approved of before. I’m sure Mom would be horrified to learn of my plans for Charity. Mom would be equally h
orrified to know Charity lives in a trailer park though. Mom isn’t as snobby as Dad, but she’s not so accepting that she’d want me to be with a girl who’s poor.
“I loved her. She’s smart, and she kept you on your toes.” Her smile is mischievous. “She’s just the kind of girl you need.”
She’s right about one thing, I do need Charity. Just not in the way she thinks. I can’t imagine being stuck with one girl. I’d be bored within a week. Charity would probably keep me entertained slightly longer than the average girl from Longhorn Academy, but even so, I’m not looking for a relationship.
“She’s not easy to get close to,” I say.
“Of course not. She has good instincts. I hope she doesn’t let you too close.”
I frown. “What does that mean?”
“Mason, I know perfectly well you have a parade of girls through here. I respect that Charity isn’t in a hurry to run up to your bedroom.”
My face warms. “How would you know we didn’t sleep together? You were stuck in your room.”
“I just know.” She laughs. “I’m not saying she won’t eventually give into your charms, but I like the fact she didn’t the first time you brought her here.”
“This isn’t really something I want to discuss with you.”
“I know. I’m simply impressed you finally brought a girl around who I like. Impressed and surprised.”
I stand. “Enough about me and Charity. Are you going to talk to dad?”
Her gaze is contemplative. “I think I might. When he comes home Thursday, I’ll bring up the subject once again.”
“Good. I still can’t believe he didn’t come home the minute he heard about your accident.”
“He wanted to.” She shrugged. “But I was fine, and there wasn’t anything he could do for me anyway. He’s in the middle of discussion with a Chinese company about possibly merging. He did offer to come home.”
I’m relieved to hear it. My dad is a workaholic, but I know he does love my mom. He just needs to find a better way to show it. I’m going to do my best to convince him to let mom work. I won’t take no for an answer this time. It’s become obvious to me, if he continues to be stubborn, I could lose my mom. That’s unacceptable simply because he’s pigheaded.
I kiss my mom and move to the door. “I’m going to a party at Travis’s tonight.”
Her expression brightens. “With Charity?”
She certainly is taken with her isn’t she? “No. I’m going solo.” Charity needs to sit home alone and miss me.
“Don’t drink too much,” she calls after me.
“I won’t.” I close the door and go to my room to get ready for the party.
****
Travis gives great parties. His parents leave town a lot, so he’s had a lot of practice. I don’t think they even care that he has parties while they’re gone, so long as he cleans up properly. He always has plenty of booze, a DJ, and even food. It’s not fancy food, mostly just carbs and fat to help absorb the alcohol.
When I arrive at the party it’s already in full swing. Half the crowd is already wasted, and the other half are watching their antics. There’s nothing worse than walking into a party full of drunk people when you’re sober. To remedy that, I head straight for the bar. Travis is there pouring drinks, and chatting up some of the girls.
“You made it,” he says cheerfully, slapping me on the back. “What can I get you to drink?”
“Hey, I was here first.” A guy with curly black hair and acne grumbles.
I frown at him. “So? Who the fuck are you?”
“Terry.” He seems to suddenly recognize me. “Oh, Mason. I didn’t know was you.”
Yeah, didn’t think so.
I turn away from him, and address my pal Travis. “I’ll have a beer, preferably in a bottle.” There’s a hierarchy that must be maintained. Whether Terry was here first or not, I should be served before him. Even Terry knows that.
Travis hands me my drink. “I wasn’t sure you were coming.” Travis studies me. “You and Jeremy are both late.”
“I had stuff to do for my mom.”
He grimaces. “Yeah, how is she?”
“Pretty good.”
I glance around the crowded room. People are dancing and jumping up and down. The scent of perspiration and stale cologne permeates the air. Like most parties, a lot of guys stand against the wall, trying to decide how to approach girls. I’ve never been shy about talking to girls. Maybe that’s because they usually approach me first. I’ve had a good track record with chicks, and that helped me build confidence. Of course, because of my dad and his money, I’m never sure if the girls are interested in me, or my dad’s bank account.
Across the room, I see Sophia dancing with Jules. They both look bored out of their minds. Guys are circling them, hoping to cut in, but the girls are ignoring them. Sophia notices me, and she waves, her face lighting up. Not sure why all of a sudden I’m on her radar, but she’s definitely into me lately.
I wave back casually. I’m not sure I want to spend too much time with Sophia tonight. She makes me uneasy because she has a lot of power at school. I tend to fuck girls who I don’t have to worry about their feelings too much. Sophia probably expects more from a guy than just casual sex. She considers herself the Queen Bee of Longhorn Academy. She’s not going to be cool with a single roll in the hay, and a pat on the ass on the way out the door. No, a girl like Sophia expects you to fall on your knees and thank the Lord she slept with you.
To be honest, I’m not even sure I want to sleep with anyone tonight. Just the little bit I did with Charity at the bonfire was better than full on sex with any of the girls I’ve hooked up with the last year. If Charity were here, I’d pursue her. Even though I was gonna let her stew all weekend, if she were right here in front of me? I don’t think I’d have the willpower to turn her down. If she was willing.
“So have you forgiven me for not keeping Paula busy last Friday?” Travis grins. He knows I’ll forgive him for just about anything.
“You’re lucky Gregory showed up.” I give him a grumpy look.
“Did you make some headway with Charity?” He laughs at my wary expression. “What? I know you don’t always tell the full truth when Jeremy’s around. I don’t blame you.”
I’m not gonna tell him what happened, even though I trust him more than Jeremy. I’m being so secretive about what happened with Charity, and I’m not exactly sure why. For whatever reason, I don’t feel like discussing it with anyone.
“I made some progress.” I sip my beer.
He chuckles. “Okay. Okay. I won’t push. You’ll tell me in your own time.”
Sophia appears at my elbow, and I jump. Where the hell did she come from? She came out of nowhere like a great white. She’s probably just as dangerous too. “Hey, Mason.” She smiles.
A shiver goes through me. Her smile doesn’t seem warm or engaging. It feels calculating. She always puts me on edge, and not in a good way. “Sophia, I didn’t know you were coming tonight.”
“Of course. Travis throws the best parties.” She captures her bottom lip between her teeth. “Want to dance?”
It’s a slow song, which I’m sure she picked on purpose. Jules stands next to her, also giving me a flirtatious look. I’m not sure why I’m suddenly so irresistible to them. “I need a few more drinks before I’m ready to dance.” I laugh.
Sophia pushes her lip out in a pout. “Save me a dance?”
“Of course.” I’m hoping she’ll get drunk and forget all about dancing, and I’ll be off the hook. I meet Jules gaze, and she winks. I have no idea what that means.
“You girls need another drink?” Travis asks. He’s nothing if not a gracious host. Plus, he likes it when the girls get drunk because they take off their shirts.
Sophia and Jules both get another drink, and I scan the crowd. It’s a packed house tonight. Travis’s parties are popular, but some nights are more crowded than others. Tonight it seems everybody at school sh
owed up.
Sophia leans into me, and her breasts press my back. I don’t really like it when girls throw themselves at me. I’ll decide who I want to sleep with, and I don’t respond well to clumsy attempts at seduction. The way Sophia is acting lately, I fully expect to find her underwear in my locker one day. Subtle she isn’t.
The front door opens, and Jeremy walks in. He’s grinning like the Cheshire cat. He has a girl with him, but I can’t see her clearly.
“Looks like Jeremy finally showed up,” I say to Travis.
He stands on his tiptoes, trying to see over people’s heads. “Uhhh.” His expression is weird. “Is that who I think it is?”
I wonder what bimbo Jeremy brought with him tonight. He’s very popular with the girls. He’s smoother than me, and the girls respond to that. They respond to me too, but Jeremy has a reputation for being charming. He seduces them same as me, but they end up thinking it was their idea.
Travis gives me a strained glance. “Now, I don’t want any fighting at my party.”
I give a short laugh. “Okaaay.” He’s still watching me with that bizarre expression.
“I’m serious. I don’t care how pissed off you get, keep your temper.”
Mystified by what he’s blabbering about, I glance toward Jeremy again. Shock jolts through me, and my welcoming smile freezes on my lips. I’d know those tousled blonde curls anywhere.
Looks like Charity Ballard is Jeremy’s date for the night.
Chapter Fifteen
Charity
The look of shock on Mason’s face totally makes coming to the party with Jeremy worth it. Mason looks like he just saw a two-headed unicorn walk into the party. I have to stop myself from laughing because it’s so obvious he’s bewildered. A warm feeling of satisfaction goes through me at his astonished expression. It’s nice to put Mason in his place. He thought he had me under his thumb, well this is his wake-up call.
