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“Forgive me for being so distracted. School is just… taking a toll this year.”
Mom grinned. “I don’t know if its school that’s got you all twisted up.”
Dad paused. “What?”
I felt my heart stop. “What?”
Mom smiled. “Could it be a boy, possibly?”
Dad shook his head. “No, no boys. We had this conversation already. College is for studying. Dating is for after you get your feet set strongly on the ground with a career.”
I felt myself turning bright pink as I shook my head.
“No, Mom. No boys. I made you and Dad that promise.”
She winked. “You made your father that promise to help him feel better about you going to school ten hours away.”
Dad shot her a look. “You’re not helping.”
Mom shrugged. “Fine. You’re distracted because of classes, my little A-plus student. I’ll accept that. For now.”
Dad turned toward me. “So are you looking forward to Thanksgiving break?”
I took a small bite of my peas. “Actually, yes. It’ll be nice to come home and spend some time actually resting instead of being locked in my room and studying.”
Or daydreaming about Max while I neglect my studies.
“Well, your mother and I have invited some friends over for the holiday. Your mother’s making a massive meal, so come a little hungrier than you have been tonight. And more talkative. They’re going to want to know all about your studies and how your second year of college is going so far.”
Mom asked. “Don’t be so hard on her. College is hard. Remember when you were going through school? I had to force you to eat because all you did was sit at that desk and study.”
“And I think my studies paid off, don’t you?”
Mom giggled. “All I’m saying is I got out and made friends. Made memories. Did a bit of dating myself.”
She winked at Dad and he grumbled.
“And I still opened my own business. Built my own career. And had the family I always wanted.”
Dad cracked a smile. “Well, aren’t you Superwoman.”
Mom smiled. “Anytime, any day, anywhere.”
I watched how quickly a disagreement between them dissolved into playful banter. My family wasn’t perfect, by far. But the way they looked at one another was something I wanted for my life. Eventually, of course. I watched them kiss. Things like that never weirded me out as a child. I knew my parents loved one another. Fully and completely. No matter what they disagreed on or what they fought about, they always came back together. Time after time.
I wanted something like that in my future.
Maybe with Max.
“I’ll clean the dishes,” I said quickly.
I felt my thighs warming and needed to get out of the room.
After volunteering to wash the dishes and put everything away, I called it an early night. Instead of staying downstairs to watch a movie with my parents, I headed back up to my room. I needed time to myself. Time to think. Time to take a long, hot shower so I could scrub every last bit of Max off my skin.
Even though it felt as if I’d never get rid of him.
I flopped down onto my childhood bed and rolled onto my side. I gazed out the window, watching as my yellow sheer curtains fluttered softly as the air conditioning kicked on. Even my bed had been perfectly made. My pictures, straightened up on my bedside table. I rolled back over and looked at my dresser drawers. My mirror was perfectly straight on the wall. My knick-knacks were all in a pretty, unified row. My vision board for my life was hanging just beside the mirror, close to my bedroom door, and not a picture on the board was crooked. Or out of place.
