AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Are you going to meet her tomorrow?”
“Fuck no,” I answer quickly, resisting the urge to bite my nails. “I’m not dropping everything and running just because she deigned to summon me. She can’t even call or text me like a normal person because she doesn’t have my phone number! So instead of ringing the doorbell and actuallytalkingto me, she resorted to somehow breaking in and leaving a note, because of course that’s the more theatrical way to do it, which issoFlorence.”
“I understand it’s frustrating,” Jason agrees, then asks,
“But aren’t you curious about what she wants?”
“Of course I’m curious, but I need to prove a point.
She can’t come back and pretend like she didn’t desert us at her shitty sister’s house all those years ago and never looked back.” Just thinking about the outrageousness of it all gets my blood boiling.
“Definitely,” Jason says in the supportive way he has.
“But do you think you’ll regret not going?”
Why does he have to ask the hard questions? Why can’t he justYes, dear, of course, dear, you’re totally right,dear,like partners do in movies?
Because then he wouldn’t be Jason.
I sink onto my bed. “No. Maybe. I don’t know.”
“I support whatever you want to do, but maybe take some time to think about it before automatically writing it off. You don’t want to regret not going and spend who knows how long wonderingwhat if.”
I sigh, some of the fight leaving me as I consider his words. “Why do you have to be so insightful and smart?”
“You forgot incredibly tall, good-looking, and an amazing kisser.”
A laugh escapes me. “That should all go without saying.”
He chuckles before growing serious. “There’s no right answer, but give meeting your mom some thought. You don’t want to have any regrets.”
“I’ll think about it. Thanks for listening, Jason.”
“Anytime,” he replies, and I wish he were here so I could bury my face in his chest and inhale his calming scent until my mind stops feeling like it’s being pulled in fifty different directions. I don’t even have the sweater that I stole from him. I gave it back with the intention of stealing it back once it smelled like him again.
I’m about to reply when I hear a siren in the background, and Jason curses.
“What’s going on?” I ask, though the tension in my gut tells me I already know.
“I’ve got to go; itisOfficer Dickwad, and for the record, you’re on hands-free and I’m not speeding. I’ll text you later.”
“Wait, Jason—” But he hangs up, and I’m left feeling guilty that he’s getting pulled over and harassedyet againbecause of me, and there’s nothing I can do about it.
After we hang up, I sit and stare at the note for longer than necessary. Even after Jason texts me that he’s made it home safely but has been given a bogus speeding ticket and I can breathe a bit better, I still stare at the note.
Gia pops in to say good night when she gets in just after midnight, and I crush the scrap of paper in my fist.
Gia wants a connection with Florence, and I want answers. Jason’s right; I’m going to regret it if I don’t go and I miss my chance to finally get some form of closure.
I’ll go check it out, but I’m not going to tell Gia until after to protect her. If Florence is here with the right intentions, it won’t matter if Gia sees her at noon or later on tomorrow after I’ve scoped it out and figured out what’s going on.
Settling back in bed with my decision made and my nails all chewed off, I pick up my phone and shoot a text to Jason even though we’ve already said good night.
Can you drive me to Roast Haven Café tomorrow?
His reply is immediate. I’ll pick you up at 11:30.
After all these years, I’m finally going to see my mother face-to-face. What am I going to say? What am I going to wear? What is she going to think of me? It shouldn’t matter, butfuck, it does.
