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Mom opens the door and gives me a wide, white smile. “Joey! What on earth are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be working?” she asks, stepping aside and letting me cross the threshold.
“I am, yes. I took an extended lunch today so I could speak with you.”
Once she closes the door, she follows me into the formal living room, the sound of her expensive high heels echoing off the white walls. “You know, if you find yourself a rich man, you would never have to work again. Like Brock Williams. His endorsement deals are key to you getting anything and everything you want. Trust me on this, darling,” she says, taking a seat in one of the wingback chairs.
I sit across from her on the uncomfortable sofa, which was clearly bought for its price tag and not for its coziness. “Actually, that’s why I’m here. I wanted to speak to you about Brock.”
Mom holds up a martini glass. Where in the hell did she get that from? “Oh? What about him?” she asks, playing coy.
“I think you know. You were there, in Seattle, if I recall.”
“Oh, that,” she says, waving off my concern. “A few friends and I hopped a plane and went to the game. Marcia Davidson has the biggest crush on that quarterback. We decided to go watch him play in person.”
I don’t need to mention the fact the quarterback is married. Everyone knows that. What I do decide to mention is my knowledge of her presence at the hotel. “Tell me about running into Caleb and Brock at the elevators.”
My mom looks at me, puzzled. “Are you referring to what happened when that photographer snapped the picture of Brock and me? Brock approached me while I waited for the elevator. He invited me up to his room,” she replies matter-of-factly.
And even though I’m expecting something similar to this reply, hearing it hurts more than I anticipated. “Really? So, he hit on you?”
“He did. I couldn’t believe it, honestly. I’m your mother!” she states with a sneer on her painted lips.
Hearing all I need to hear, I stand up. The movement seems to catch her off guard. “That’s right, you are my mother.”
“I told him no, absolutely not was I going to his room. Not when he was linked romantically to you.”
“Okay,” I reply, turning and walking toward the door. Before I reach the foyer, I stop and turn back to face her. “That is interesting, though. Considering I heard it was the other way around.”
Mom laughs, a dry, uncomfortable noise. “Well, of course he would say that. No man likes to be caught with his pants down, sweetie. They lie.”
I nod, as if considering her words. “Funny, it was actually Caleb who told me it was the other way around. He witnessed the entire exchange.”
Mom snorts in disgust. “You mean Brock’s best friend? Not only would that man cover for him, but he clearly hates me. He blames me for ruining his parents’ relationship.”
“Youdidruin his parents’ relationship.”
She rolls her eyes. “I only reacted to an invitation, Joey, which is exactly what happened in Seattle. Except this time, I didn’t go up to his room.”
“Because you weren’t invited.”
“Because I knew it was wrong.”
“Right. It was wrong. And yet you still came on to my boyfriend, knowing full well we were in a relationship. We both know you did, but what I really want to know is why?”
Mom’s eyes are wide as she realizes she’s cornered. I’m not backing down this time, and I think she knows it. “Listen, sweetie, I had been drinking—” she starts, but I cut her off.
“Yes, you had. That still doesn’t excuse you coming on to my brotherandmy boyfriend.”
She rolls her eyes and takes another sip of her drink. “Okay, Josephine, stop being so dramatic.”
“Dramatic? I think I have a right to be a bit dramatic when I find out my mother tried to seduce my boyfriend. And maybe I wouldn’t be thisdramaticif it were the first time, but you and I both know it wasn’t.”
Mom’s mouth opens, like a fish out of water, but no words come.
“Camden Lenz.”
That grabs her attention. A look of panic crosses her face.
“You remember him, right? The guy I was dating three years ago, right out of college? You met him a few times over the nine months we were together. In fact, I’m pretty sure you met him several times on your own, right?Withoutme being present?”
