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Jill sent me an inquiring look and made a tsking sound. “All work and no play.” She threw me that lame old line like I was the only guy she’d ever said it to.
“Who says I haven’t been playing?” I asked and Annette’s reminder flashed through my mind. “Follow my car. I’ve got to make a stop at the nearest bodega to get some rubbers.”
Chapter 10
Mariska
I WAS PUTTING CRACKERS and slices of cheese on the tray for Pete and two of his play dates when Mom said, “I saw Tom and his new girlfriend at Luigi’s before you arrived yesterday.”
With the full tray in my hand, I pulled in a steady breath and forced myself to smile.
“I saw them at Gregory and Maxine’s party. They look great together,” I acknowledged. It really warmed my heart that Tom had found someone else who looked at him with the same affection and genuine respect that he’d held for her. Tom had been very kind during our date and after I’d told him that we weren’t going to go on another one.
“That could’ve been you,” Mom said coolly, as if the comment would irritate me less because it didn’t have her customary patronizing ring to it. After finishing my midterms and papers earlier this week, I couldn’t wait to see her, Dad, and Pete. She’d been agreeable during dinner. Dad could’ve talked to her, but he didn’t like to get in between our disagreements unless he thought that I was out of bounds. He didn’t take into account that sometimes Mom didn’t give me room to move without one of her critiques. It really bothered her that Scott and I were not dating exclusively after only two dates. She’d acted like she’d approved of my decision to date him and wait until he and I were prepared to make a decision about commitment.
“Yeah and I would’ve been a terrible girlfriend, because I don’t feel anything for him. Rachel likes him and I am guessing she finds every word that comes out of his mouth fascinating.” I lifted a shoulder. “I couldn’t. No matter how much we both tried to make something click.”
“Oh, dear,” Mom said with a grimace. “I know you see these TV shows, magazines, and read those trashy romance novels and think dating someone requires you to feel like you’ve got to feel wild with a guy. Those aren’t the values your Dad and I taught you. People have a hard enough time separating you from Beth as it is.”
I stared at my mom, trying to decide whether or not to ask a question that’s been on my mind for a while, and then it just came out. “Do you feel any passion for Dad?” My voice quivered and the tray in my hands shook, so I placed it back on the counter.
Wrinkling her brow, she said, “Do you think that’s a question you should be asking your Mom?” I didn’t want to know about their sex lives. I wanted to know if she loved my Dad like I knew he loved her. He wasn’t a man of many words, but he cherished her and, for once, I wanted to see or hear that from her.
“The boys must be wondering where their snacks are,” I said and picked up the tray from the counter.
***
I STAYED UP WITH Mom and Dad in the living room until Pete’s friends’ parents picked them up. I was dying to
get out of the house. I’d asked my parents if I could leave the house for a bit and they’d told me to return home in two hours. It didn’t matter that I was eighteen years old and that I was supporting myself through college. I was in their house for two more days and then I’d resume my work and school life all over again. And despite my exhaustion, it was totally worth it.
Jake’s Explorer pulled up in front of my house. Mom and Dad stood a few inches from the door and waved to Jake, who flashed a smile, and were gone by the time I was in the passenger seat of his car. They knew his reputation as a Franklin Park’s Casanova and, yet, they hadn’t ever forbade me to hang out with him.
“Luigi’s?” Jake asked in greeting and I gave him an eager nod. Laughing, he drove to the place that I’d worked at all year round during my four years of high school.
I’d used to think that it sucked to have to work and squeeze in personal time, but mom and dad did me a favor by making me earn my own money. I saved up a decent amount of money, which covered my room and board, meal plan, and my books. I didn’t have a scholarship like Beth did, but my grandparents had left money for Pete and I that had to be strictly used for college expenses when they’d passed away six years ago. I’d also spent that money to cover the balance for my tuition.
***
“HEY JAKE.” STEVE CLAPPED hands with Jake and titled his chin to me and told me, “Francine and I were talking about when you were going to come to your old stomping ground.”
“I wouldn’t come back home without seeing you guys,” I replied and glanced around the packed Pizzeria.
Francine came through the double doors, with a delighted expression. “I thought I heard your voice,” she said as she threw her plastic gloves in the trash. “Is college kicking your butt?” Her eyes veered from me to Jake, who released a deep breath. Steve and Francine chuckled at his reaction.
“It’s nothing like high school,” I said. Francine propped her hands on our shoulders and we sat down on the stools.
“That’s what Tom says,” Steve remarked, a corner of his mouth curled up. “He can’t be with Rachel like he thought he’d be.”
Jake’s gaze drifted to me when Francine added, “He assumed that Westmoreland Community College would be easy.”
“It has to be a lot when he works here and—”
Francine shook her hand. “His grades have been too hot so his Momma said that he can work here in the summer and during his school breaks. Rachel’s a senior in high school. She has to get everything finalized for her enrollment this fall at Westmoreland too.”
Steve’s smile widened. “He’s just scared that Rachel will flee from him like you did,” he teased me.
I rolled my eyes. “From what I’d heard, he and Rachel were dating a week after we had that date.”
