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Michael scoffed. “Why don’t you two let me spoil you every now and again? I don’t get it.”
I laughed. “Because you’re always doing it.”
He rolled his eyes. “Fine. But I’m picking you up. Be ready by three? That sound good?”
And after Allison and I nodded, the three of us headed upstairs.
It was almost painful, walking away from our planned weekend. But I understood why we had to do it. I walked myself home, watching the sun set over the horizon as the smell of garbage and darkness filled my nostrils. I thought back on the conversation I’d had with my mother this morning. Maybe this would be a good time for our girls’ night in. I mean, with it being so last-minute and all that, she wouldn't have enough time to invite her bullshit boyfriend over.
Or so I thought.
“Hey, Mom. You here?”
She poked her head down the stairs. “Rae? I thought you were at Allison’s for the weekend.”
I set my bag down. “Her parents’ spa retreat or whatever had to be canceled because of her father’s work. So I’m home.”
“Oh, that’s nice.”
“Want to do our girls’ night tonight? I’ve even got some snacks in my bag. Some chips, some cookies. There’s a sandwich or two, too.”
Instead of seeing my mother smile, I saw her wince.
“What?” I asked.
She sighed. “I didn't think you were going to be home until Sunday. So I invited D.J. over for the night.”
“Ah.”
“I’m sorry, honey. It’s just that—”
I waved it off. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. It was a last-minute thing anyway.”
“You can have dinner with us. He’s picking up something nice from that Italian place up the road. I could give him a call really quickly. You want some lasagna?”
I shook my head. “No, it’s fine. I’ve got plenty of food in my bag.”
“We could throw a movie in after dinner?”
“Mom, it’s fine. I promise. I have some homework I need to get done anyway if I have any chance of actually enjoying my weekend. You two have fun, okay?”
I carried my things up the stairs, brushing quickly by my mother. Of course she’d take this time to invite D.J. over. What the hell else did I expect? I made my way into my bedroom and closed the door, ready to tear into my reading for English while I munched on some cookies. I flopped onto my bed and pulled out my books. I spread out my snacks as my mouth began salivating. I didn’t know what it was about the on-brand cookies that tasted so good. But they were always better than the off-brand ones my mother bought.
However, I didn’t even get halfway through my reading before the fighting started.
“I’m sorry, D.J. I didn't realize you wanted me to get wine.”
He sighed. “Beer doesn’t go with Italian food. Are you that thick-headed?”
Mom scoffed. “Well, I’m not a wine connoisseur. I wouldn't even know what kind to get with noodles and shit.”
“No, you just know how to open your throat and chug it back so you can get drunk all the time. Right?”
“You’re the one always dragging me off to parties when I’m completely content hanging around here with you. Just you. In your arms.”
“Well, maybe if you weren’t such a boring little fuck, I wouldn’t always have to drag you to parties to get you to loosen up!”
I rolled my eyes as I reached for my headphones. Then I remembered that D.J. had thrown my iPod full of music against a fucking wall. Great. I hunkered down in my bed, pulling the covers over my ears. I tried blocking out their fighting as I struggled to get through my reading. But finally I couldn't take it any longer. It had taken me two hours to do what should have only taken forty-five minutes, and I couldn't take their arguing any longer.
