My phone buzzes in my hand and I clench my jaw when it’s another call from my mom. I’m sure she wants to ask me to come over for dinner. Again. You would think that after avoiding her invitation for weeks, she’d give it up.
With adrenaline coursing through me, I jam my finger against the screen, answering the call and bringing the phone up to my ear.
“Yeah?” I don’t bother with a greeting and the harshness in my voice only angers me more.
It’s silent on the line and I’m hoping this was simply just a butt dial but I’m only so lucky.
“DD?” Mom’s voice is laced with concern, making me realize that I’m crying. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”
I look back in the direction Lucas walked and force myself to keep heading toward my car. I pull my phone away and wipe my eyes before putting the phone back to my ear.
“Yeah, I’m fine, Mom. What’s up?”
“Are you sure?” She pushes. “You sound upset.”
I grit my teeth. “I said I’m fine, okay? Did you need something?”
She sighs, defeated, and I hate that I’m also this way to my mom. She’s done nothing but love me unconditionally. And this is how I repay her? I just don’t know how to stop being this way.
“I’m making your favorite for dinner. Chicken parm,” Mom finally says. “Brian and I thought that you could come over tonight.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it.”
I now have plans of crying alone in my room. My schedule is pretty booked for the evening.
“Can you try?” Her voice is pleading. Hopeful. “There’s something we want to talk to you about.”
I grip the phone tightly, my breathing coming out shaky, willing to say whatever it is that’ll end this conversation. I don’t want to talk anymore. To anyone.
“If I have time, sure,” I say.
“Okay, well I love you.”
Now at my car, I press my forehead against the closed door, shutting my eyes and letting the weight of her words crash down on me. I don’t wipe away my tears, I let them fall instead.
“Yeah, I love you too, Mom.”
We hang up but I don’t move to get into my car. I remain standing in the parking lot of Metric’s, alone all because of my own doings.
But this is what I wanted, isn’t it?
So why is there an ache in my chest?
Nineteen
Lucas
Preston and I sit side by side, game controllers in both of our hands. After my run-in with Denise earlier today, I decided that instead of sulking, I needed a distraction. And what better way to do that than by kicking ass in Overwatch 2?
Well, at least I’m trying to but Preston is just holding me back at this point.
“Dude.” I bark out a laugh as Preston gets killed yet again. “How did you not see that sniper?”
“Because I was too busy saving your ass.”
I scoff. “Right.”
His phone that’s resting on his thigh pings. He looks down for a quick second before practically tossing it onto the coffee table.