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“Just a girl,” he mumbled, reluctantly, squirming under everyone’s gaze. He scratched his chin, staring at the table.
Trace chortled. “Is she resisting your infamous charm?”
“Yes,” Trent groaned, rolling his eyes. “She completely ignores me and not even my dimples affect her! Girls can’t resist the dimples!” He pointed dramatically to his cheeks.
“Guess you’re going to have to try harder, little brother. Maybe, the whole ‘flirt’ thing doesn’t work for her,” Trace shrugged.
“Ya think?” Trent snapped.
“Why don’t you just be yourself around her?” I suggested. “A lot of girls aren’t attracted to the showy type.”
“Whatever,” Trent grumbled, as he unfolded his napkin, and spread it across his lap, “I don’t want to talk about this, anyway.”
The waiter brought our food out and we settled into easy conversation.
“Oh, I keep forgetting to mention that the lake house renovations are finished,” Lily explained to Trace. “You and Olivia should come up this summer. We’ll be leaving in two weeks, to spend the rest of the summer there, but you’re welcome to go beforehand by yourselves, or join us. You too, Nora,” she added.
This was the first time my mom and Lily had met. I was extremely pleased by how well they were getting along.
“That sounds nice,” I nodded at Trace. “I’ve never been to a lake house.”
“Great!” Lily clapped her hands together. “And seriously, Nora, please join us.”
“I would love to,” my mom replied, “but since I was recently promoted, I don’t think it would be best to go on a vacation so soon.”
“Oh, of course. I completely understand. Just know that the invitation is open and I mean that sincerely,” she smiled pleasantly. Raising her water glass in the air, Lily said, “Here’s to new beginnings.”
“To new beginnings,” we all echoed.
???
“It’s a bit bare, isn’t it?” I assessed my mom’s new apartment.
It was smaller than Trace’s apartment and not as nice, but at least, like she had said, it was clean. The carpet was brand new and the walls were freshly painted. The appliances weren’t stainless steel, but they were new as well.
A single couch decorated the designated living area, and when I poked my head inside the only bedroom, it contained a simple bed and mattress.
“It’s not like I have much,” my mom sighed. “All I brought with me was clothes. I’ll add some decorations later,” she pulled her hair off her shoulders and tied it in a ponytail. “But for now, it’s my own place, and that’s what matters.”
“Let me know when you want to go shopping,” I replied, looking over the couch to make sure it was clean. “I’d love to help you.”
“I will,” she placed her hands on her hips over her stretchy yoga pants. “It’ll probably be a while though. I really don’t have the money right now. I had to pay the first three months rent up front and it has all but wiped out my bank account.”
“I’m sorry, mom,” I bit my lip. “I should have moved in with you.”
“No, no, that’s silly,” she shook her head. “You’re happy where you’re at and you don’t need to worry about me. I’m fine on my own. I even made sure this place has a security system,” she pointed to the wall beside the door where a white panel was inserted.
“What are you going to do about a ride to work?” I asked. Since Resa didn’t work, she had been lending my mom her car, or driving her to work if she had errands to run.
“Don’t be mad,” her cheeks flushed, “but Nick will be taking me. He has a job for the summer near the hospital and he said it wouldn’t be any trouble.”
“I’m sure he did say that,” I grumbled. Apparently, I was going to have to have a talk with Nick and let him know my mom was off limits.
“He’s a nice guy, Liv. Don’t crinkle your nose like that. He’s sweet and he helps me out,” she rolled her suitcase into the bedroom.
“He’s also a twenty-two year old man who wants to get in my mother’s pants,” I grumbled.
“Olivia!” My mom exclaimed, glaring at me with wide copper eyes, the same eyes she had given me.
