“I just don’t know why you’re not taking your career seriously anymore.” Her red lips turned down into a frown.
The tiny muscles in Jessica’s jaw flexed and released. “I’m taking my career incredibly seriously. I tried to explain to you. I want to make a difference in people’s lives.”
“And what about the difference I made in your life?” The mother’s lips thinned. “Are you just going to ignore all the sacrifices I made for you?”
“No, I appreciate—”
“Oh, yes, you’ve said it so many times before, Jessica. Yes, you appreciate everything I’ve done for you.” She rolled her eyes. “You know what your words are worth to me.”
My blood felt like lava in my veins. How the fuck did she think she could talk to Jess like that? Jessica was way too nice. But I wasn’t.
“Sorry, but I’m not going to let you speak to Jessica like she’s a piece of trash,” I said, storming into the room with my fists clenched.
“Excuse me?” The mother’s penciled on eyebrows raised.
“I said, you’re being a bitch.”
Her lips fell open and she looked from Jessica to me and back as if to say, Are you going to let this happen?
I was worried I’d gone too far, but Jessica didn’t look angry. She looked as shocked as her mother, but not angry.
The mother’s eyes narrowed. “You’re that little imp starring in the soon-to-be flop with my daughter, aren’t you?”
“If you gave a shit how much the movie meant to your daughter, you wouldn’t talk about it like that. Do you even care? Do care about Jessica at all beyond her ability to provide you with tacky jewelry?”
“How dare—”
“How dare you come into your daughter’s home and disrespect her.” I felt like I was breathing fire.
“I suppose I should leave if I’m going to be spoken to this way.” Her lips thinned as she looked at Jess, as if expecting her to disagree.
“Amelia’s right.” Jessica rubbed the back of her neck, eyes glued to the floor. A pained expression flickered across her face when she spoke again. “Sometimes you treat me like shit, mom.”
Genuine hurt crossed the woman’s face. “I only want the best—”
“For you.” Jessica finished for her. “You only want the best for you. My needs and wants come second in your mind. They always have. And I can’t have a relationship like that anymore.”
“Well,” she started, then closed her mouth. After a long pause, she finally said, “I think this exchange has left us both with a lot to think about.” She straightened her handbag over her shoulder, pausing one more time before finally turning and walking out the door without another word.
16.
Jessica
I collapsed on the couch, arms splayed. “Geez, that was exhausting.”
“Sorry I cursed out your mom...” Amelia said awkwardly, a look of genuine apology on her face. “I know I get a bit… explosive sometimes. I’m trying to get a handle on it, but I just lost it when I heard her talking down to you.”
I struggled not to laugh at how upset she looked. “To be honest, it felt sort of good to hear you say all that. Sometimes I start to feel like I’m crazy and imagining all these things about my parents. It was good to hear that I’m not.”
Amelia curled up next to me on the couch, wrapping both arms around me. Despite her reserved nature, she had a ferocity that would intimidate anyone. I wondered if that same passion came out when she loved someone too.
No, no, no. I wouldn’t let myself get too deep with Amelia while filming was still going on. It was one thing to hook up and cuddle a little, but thinking about love was out of the question. We were just hanging out. Nothing serious. Certainly nothing that could compromise the movie if it were to blow up in our faces.
Right?
I just loved spending time with her. And touching her. And kissing her. And the way she’d stood up to my mom left me more than a little in awe.
“Let me take you out somewhere,” I said suddenly.