“Tú perra. You wouldn’t do that to me.”
“No, but I’d do itforyou.” I sniffle, wiping away my tears.
“You can’t do anything if you don’t know where I am.” She grabs her bag off the floor, bumping my shoulder hard as she passes me. “Goodbye, mija.”
thirty-nine
Zeke
Avalon’s meeting my mom today.
I almost told her we should choose a different day because of everything going on with her mom. She hasn’t seen her in a week, which isn’t abnormal. She went months before her mom overdosed, but this feels different.
When her mom disappeared before, it didn’t feel final. This does.
So, I’m hoping that meeting my mom will go well today and that Avalon will get to feel the kind of maternal love I’ve had my whole life. The type of love Avalon has always wanted from her own mom.
“Is this okay?” She steps away from her closet, wearing a pink sweater and jeans.
“Yes.” I laugh. “And so were the last six outfits.”
“I’ve never done this.” She drops down next to me on her bed. “I’ve never met a guy’s mom, especially not on his birthday. I don’t even know what I’m supposed to say or how I’m supposed to act.”
“Stewart, she’s gonna love you.”
“How can yoube so sure?”
“Because I d—” I pause, thinking of my next words carefully… because I almost just told Avalon I love her. Maybe not with those exact words, but I was going to sayI do.
My mom’s gonna love her because I love her.
“You make me happy, Stewart. That’s how I know she’ll love you because all she wants is for me to be happy.”
“Maybe this isn’t a good idea,” she replies.
“You’re coming with me, Avalon. I met Jay on a whim, and I think it went well.”
“It did. He really liked you.”
“And why do you think that is?”
“Because you make me happy.”
“Exactly.” I lean forward, kissing her softly. “My mom won’t care what you’re wearing. She’ll just be happy that I found someone who makes me feel alive again.”
“Okay,” she whispers, resting her forehead against mine. “Let me try one more outfit.”
She pushes off the bed and rushes over to her closet. I watch her change into her seventh outfit in the last fifteen minutes and smile. If I didn’t know what love felt like before, I do now—
This is it.
Mom?” I linger in the doorway before stepping inside her room. Avalon stays out in the hall as I do. She wanted me to have a moment with just my mom. I’m just hoping she’s still on the other side of the door when I go to get her.
She smiles, her eyes lighting up in a way they haven’t in a while. “My baby.”
“Hi, momma.” I lean forward, engulfing her in my arms. “How’re you feeling today?”
“Better now that you’re here.” She pinches my cheeks as if I’m a child. “Happy birthday, baby.”