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“Addy, don’t—”
“I’m not staying here. I’ll be at my parent’s house.”
In the dark, I grab my phone off the nightstand and run out to the hall, then through the apartment until I’m outside. I run down the stairs, out into the cool night, only to realize I left my car keys upstairs.
I can’t call Mom or Dad to pick me up, knowing they had a fair bit to drink tonight. Instead, I call an Uber but walk down the street to the corner store to wait.
When the car arrives, I give my parents’ address and send Mom a quick text.
Me:Mom, I’m coming back home tonight.
I don’t expect her to respond, but the bubble appears and soon after a reply.
Mom:Okay, honey.
The driver pulls up to my parents’ house. Thankfully, all the cars are gone, so only my parents and Alexa are home. I thank the driver, then step out and walk toward the main door. Punching the code in, the door opens. When I close it behind me, I notice all the lights are off besides a faint glow coming from down the long hallway.
I walk toward the kitchen to find Mom sitting by herself at the counter.
“Mom? Why are you awake.”
“I wanted to clean up,” she answers, but the worry is etched on her face. “Your father offered then passed out.”
I nod then sit beside her.
“I’m here, Addy, if you want to talk or not talk.”
My fingers become restless, scratching against my arms until my skin looks red raw.
“I don’t know what to say …”
“Say everything, or say nothing.”
A heavy sigh escapes me. “Cruz told me he’s in love with me.”
Mom remains silent beside me. Then, she lets out a breath. “Are you surprised?”
My head swiftly turns to face her. “Are you?”
“To be honest, not really. I’ve known Cruz just as long as I’ve known you. He’s always been protective over you. But lately, he’s been extra protective. The dynamic changed when you moved in with each other.
“How can I be so stupid, Mom?”
Mom places her arm around me. “Addison, you’re not stupid. People express their feelings in different ways. To someone who lives with their best friend, it’s easy to miss these signs.”
I choose not to mention tonight, and Cruz kissing me in my bed without my consent. Deep down, I know he would never force himself on me, but it doesn’t erase the anger I feel toward him. His advances were uncalled for, and how dare he think I would easily reciprocate after I walked away from our conversation in confusion.
“Why do men have to be so complicated?”
“They can be just as complicated as women. Look at your father.”
“Yeah,” I mumble, fidgeting with the gold ring on my finger which my parents gave to me on my twenty-first birthday. “But you and Dad have been together forever. So, it’s easy, right?”
Mom purses her lips while thinking. “You always have to work at a marriage or relationship. People evolve, circumstances change. But it should never be hard work. You shouldn’t be fighting to stay together. Does that make sense?”
I nod. “But what if being together will hurt someone else?”
“That’s a whole other problem.”
