AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hey,” I straighten up, “I do love my work, okay? I do. Are you questioning my work ethic?”
“No, we’re not, my child. And yes, you do love your work. But not as much aswhoyou work for.”
I open my mouth to say something but only a puff of air comes out. That and this weird whiny sound. I think I’m trying to protest but can’t seem to do it. And my mother, knowing that even through the phone, takes advantage of it and goes, “Isn’t it?”
The urge to say no is strong but again all that comes out is a puff of air and another set of strange sounds.
And again my mother jumps on it. “You do. And you know what, I should’ve known. You’ve been acting strangely and if I remember correctly, all of it started six months ago when you started working for him.”
“What, that’s crazy,” I finally manage to get out.
But my mother ignores my efforts. “All those times I caught you Googling things about Puerto Rico and every time I asked about it, you just waved it off as if you’ve been looking at vacation destinations.”
“I was,” I insist, feeling really hot in my cheeks.
Jupiter scoffs; have I mentioned that I hate her?
My mom scoffs too; and yes, I hate her as well. Even more so because she has words to say after that. “Like you’d ever go on vacation to all the way to Puerto Rico.”
“I could!”
“You hardly go to New York City and we live two hours away from it.”
“That’s because I go to school, mother. And work, okay? I’m responsible.”
“A little too responsible,” Jupiter mutters.
“Shut up or I will destroy you,” I threaten.
“Ooh, I’msoscared,” Jupiter mocks.
Before I can retort though, my mom speaks. “And all that obsession over cooking Puerto Rican food? All those recipes you kept looking up.”
“I’m interested in ethnic food, sue me.”
“Are you also interested in cooking it for your boss?”
“Yes.” Before anyone can say anything, I rush on, my face really heated now. “And that’s because he has no one to cook for him, okay? His mom moved down to Florida after retiring. And his sisters are both married and busy with their own lives. He’s allalone. With a three-year-old baby. Plus his coaches and nutritionists are always making him eat all that healthy crap. Even during the off season.”
None of it is a lie.
His family is too busy to cook for him and even if they weren’t, as a pro soccer player, he’s not allowed to eat anything fun. All he ever does is practice and practice and more practice. And when he’s not doing that, he’s either working out or eating all that crappy healthy food that no one in their right mind likes to eat.
And since I like to cook for the people I care about, I cooked for him.
It’s not a crime to cook for your boss, is it?
It’s not a crime to care about him either.
Especially when he has a three-year-old baby on top of his busy schedule.
So yes, I cooked for him.
So what.
It doesn’t mean anything.
Doesn’t it though, Meadow?
