AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I nodded. “Sure. The place is stocked. I’ll even put your breakable trinkets away before I throw the raging party.”
The corners of her eyes crinkled and she nodded. “Funny girl. Funny. But, I’m serious.”
“So am I. If I need anything…” I’d been going to say Roman was next door, but that was ridiculous, “Carmen’s next door and you know she’ll fuss over me worse than Gramma on my birthday.”
Mum smiled widely. “Oh, yes,Carmen’snext door.” She winked and I threw her some shade.
“She is.”
“So is her son.”
“I thought you were drunk the other night?”
“Oh, I was – don’t drink, stay in school. But, don’t think I don’t remember you walking in here with a smile larger than I wore the day I had you.”
My frown deepened. “You were in labour for hours. Likehours.”
“And it was still one of the two best days of my life.”
“Roman isnotone of the best days of my life.”
Mum shrugged. “No, ‘course not.”
“Okay, enough. We’re just two people hanging out!” I chuckled.
“Of course. Mason’s your John Cusack.”
I nodded. “Mason’s my John Cusack. Mason’s lovely, he’s nice, he’s the romance.”
“All right. I won’t say any more about Roman then.”
I looked at her. “Okay.”
“Except to ask if you’re seeing him tonight.”
I rolled my eyes. “We don’t make plans, Mum. We just…” I shrugged. “We sometimes find ourselves in the same vicinity.”
Mum nodded slowly like she understood some unspoken words she read between the lines. “Of course. Simple. Easy. Playing it cool.”
I crossed my arms and glared at her. “Mum, I love you. But, there is nothing to play here, cool or otherwise. We’re at most friends. We just…live next to each other.”
“Because of Mason.”
I shook my head. “No, not because of Mason. Because Roman is not the kind of guy you look to for a relationship and he’s barely capable of even friendship with Rio.”
“Who’s Rio?” Mum asked.
The only guy who’s been brave enough to fight Roman at school in the last year or two.
I waved a hand as I turned to the kettle and turned it on again. “Some guy in our class. They hang out.”
“And, they’re not friends?”
“No, they are. It’s just. I don’t know. Roman’s… Soon, he’ll once again just be a guy I don’t talk to, I’m sure.”
“Honey…” Mum started. “You know, Carmen talks–”
But, I never got to ask what it was Carmen talked about because Dad’s voice came from the front door loud and proud. “Daddy’s home!”
