AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As she crosses her arms, she gives me a long, hard look. Even while she’s frowning, I’m struck by how beautiful my mother is. Her dark hair is graying, and some strands have fallen from her loose ponytail to frame her face. I’ve always been told that I look the most like her, and I hope I’ll look even half as pretty as she does when I’m her age.
“Honey,” she says. “You forget how similar we are—how well I know you.”
“Maybe I’ve changed,” I say, looking away.
Her laugh is soft as she angles her body to look at me. Over the years, she’s learned to give me space, so she doesn’t sit too close. “Of course you’ve changed. I’ve watched you grow in maturity and beauty so much since you started at Pemberton. But some things, Thelia… some things tend to stay the same.”
“Like?”
“Like your tells when you lie,” she says with mild amusement. Not mocking, just… her. Always so gentle and kind. “You think, after twenty-one years, I haven’t figured them out yet?”
Groaning, I bring my knees to my chest and rest my cheek against them. When my eyes meet hers, her lips are still turned up, but her eyes are crinkled with worry.
“You don’t have to tell me anything,” she says, “but I want you to know that I’m still here for you. Being an adult ishard.You’ve been trying to manage on your own, and I’m proud of you for that. But… well, you’ve always been one to process your pain out loud.”
I bristle.
“I don’t mean it as an insult, honey,” she assures. “Just an observation. If you have someone else you work through your emotions with now, that’s good. But if you don’t—or even if it’s only for winter break—I’ll happily be that person for you again.”
My chest aches. Even if her and Dad have always been overprotective, it’s only ever been because they care so deeply about me. For most of high school, I counted them as some of my best friends. We did almost everything together, and there were almost no secrets I kept from my mom.
It’s not common for most kids, I don’t think, but I trusted my parents wholeheartedly. Still do. I just needed some time on my own to figure out how to be an adult without having to wear metaphorical safety pads the whole time.
Now, though, I’ve discovered how cold and harsh the world outside of my parents’ protective circle can be. It eats you alive, breaks your heart, and spits you out without a second thought.
My phone buzzes on the couch next to me, a notification popping up on the screen.
Kellan:Love you, ma belle. I hope you’re having a good evening.
Hurt ripples through me. “I don’t think I can do this.”
“Do what, hon?”
Again, my phone buzzes.
Cal:Is everything okay?
CanI do this? Can I follow through with my plan, knowing that I’m going to be hurting myself in the process? I wasn’t supposed to develop feelings for them. It wasn’t supposed to get this complicated.
“Oh, Athelia,” Mom murmurs, and I realize my face is scrunched up, and tears are streaming down my face.
“I missed you,” I sob as I fling myself into her arms. “And I don’t know what to do anymore.”
Mom locks her arms around me, and I cry harder at her familiar lavender scent and the comforting sounds she makes. How did I think I could survive without her? Why did I ever try?
The thought to be embarrassed doesn’t even cross my mind as my mom holds me in her lap while I cry and cry and cry. Eventually, my tears subside enough for me to get a coherent sentence out.
And, before I can think better of it, I curl up with my head in her lap and tell her far more than I should.
. . .
“They didwhat?”Dad asks in the morning.
I shift uncomfortably, staring at the dining room table. We just finished eating breakfast together while Mom and I explained everything I told her last night.
I left out a lot—the guys’ jobs, anything to do with Professor Kammes, and most of Halloween night. Still, the bullying alone is enough to enrage my father to the point where he’s raising his voice, which is something he rarely does.
“Please don’t tell me it was stupid to date them,” I mumble.
