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I say nothing in reply, which hardly deters her because she doesn’t listen to me anyway.
“Did you get my recording?” Mom giggles like a mischievous child. Like her son’s misery delights her. “Of course you did. That brat took down the pictures immediately.”
I bristle. Kaelyn and I might be fighting, but I won’t accept disrespect from anyone.
Not even mom.
“Don’t call her that,” I say firmly.
“Whatever. I’m relieved you know the truth.” Mom’s voice turns simpering. “Kaelyn was a two-faced liar all along.”
“And who are you, mom?” I head down the stairs of the gym and push the door to the exits. “You kicked Kaelyn out of her building. And I’m sure you went to visit her that day just to provoke her into saying something stupid so you could show me.”
“I…” Mom stammers. “Is that what she told you? Kastle, I’m innocent. I had no idea she had her little office there. If I did, I would have certainly—”
I open my car and hop in. “I’m busy.”
“Get un-busy. I want to see you. It’s been ages since I’ve sat with my son and had a nice dinner. Talked about life.” She sighs. “This entire debacle proved to me that we don’t spend near enough time checking in on each other.”
“I can’t tonight.”
“You’ll deny your mother this one request?” She sniffs. “Really? After all the years we’ve spent taking care of you? After all the sacrifices we made? I can’t believe this is how you’re treating your own mother, Kastle. You can spend all your time galvanizing with Kaelyn, but you can’t even spare one night—”
I sigh heavily. “Fine. Let’s meet. I have something I want to discuss with you too.” Now that Glory’s moving to the city, I want to give her a heads-up.
Mom names the place and I head home to shower, knowing that she won’t appreciate me in my sweaty gym clothes.
You never know when the paparazzi will stop by, Kastle. Camera-ready. That’s how I live my life. With the mask on always. Just in case we need to fake a family moment. Just in case we need to perform.
A few hours later, I sit in the parking lot of the restaurant and try to prepare myself for whatever mom has to say. My forehead hits the top of the steering wheel. I’m already exhausted, and I haven’t even sat down yet.
Forcing myself to leave the car and go inside, I step through the restaurant doors. The moment I walk in, two patrons excitedly point at me.
“Is that Kastle Jameson?”
“It kind of looks like him.”
“Is it though?”
“Should I ask for an autograph?”
“No. Don’t go over there. If it’s some other Asian guy, you’ll look racist.”
I’m glad when they don’t approach and just continue to stare from afar.
After giving my name to the hostess, I finally escape their wide-eyed surveillance.
When I walk closer to mom’s table, I notice there’s a girl sitting next to her. Blonde. Clueless blue eyes. Kittenish grin.
“Kastle!” Mom squeals, rising to her feet and showing off her fitted red gown. “You know Ana, Harriet’s daughter. Funny story. We ran into each other just before I came in and I invited her to join us.”
I wonder if mom thinks I’m that stupid. There’s a zero percent chance she and Ana ‘happened’ to meet today.
Though every bone in my body screams at me to leave, I slide into the booth across from the ladies. My patience is thin tonight. I’ll give mom a few minutes and then I’m out.
“It’s nice to see you again, Kastle.” Ana rubs her foot against mine.
I pull my leg back. Scowl. “You too.”
