Bryce jumps up from the couch. “I got you.” He’s back moments later with a bottle and two glasses. When I raise my eyebrows in question, he nods toward mom. “She’s driving.”
“Why aren’t you?”
“She doesn’t trust me in her brand-new car.” That’s fair. I wouldn’t trust him either.
Mom grabs a bottle of water from the coffee table as I settle in between them. “So, what happened?”
I give them a quick rundown of the girls canceling on me, and Carlos spilling my drink on my book. Then it dawns on me. I left my fucking book. I was hoping to avoid the bar until next week. My normal time for visiting, but the book is due back at the library on Friday and I need to get it. “After everything was cleaned up, he asked me on a date.”
“It’s about damn time,” Bryce mutters. Mom tries to reach behind me to slap him again, but she can’t reach.
“Did you say yes?”
“No,” I sputter. “I don’t have time to date. I have David.”
“You’re allowed to have a life outside of your son,” Mom pats me knee. She would know. She’s been a single mom since Bryce was around eight years old. She dated here and there, but we were always her top priority. And it’s not like she went on a ton of dates. I can probably count them on one hand.
“And I do. With my friends. Once a week.”
Bryce mutes the TV and gives me his full attention. He must have something to say if he’s not paying any attention to the game. “That’s fine, but you can have a boyfriend. Have you even dated since Nathan?”
“Nothing serious, but speak of the devil.”
“What does that mean?” Mom is on defense. She never cared for him. Not even when we were in high school, but she didn’t say anything because I needed to make my own choices. Wherever they led. Even if it was toward a not so fun divorce.
“I ran into him tonight.” I wait to see if either of them is going to say something and when they don’t, I continue. “He was on a date. I mean, he had a dinner meeting. You know, anything to not spend time with his child on the designated night. Anyway, he zeroed in on me as I was rejecting Carlos.”
“Because that isn’t awkward,” Bryce laughs. “What happened after that?”
This is the part I don’t want to say out loud. The one that makes me feel pathetic. Not just because I told him Carlos was my boyfriend. But because I allowed him the power to make me feel small. To feel like even after all this time, I need to impress him. To let him know I’m doing just fine without him. “I may have told him Carlos is my boyfriend.”
“I guess that means you kind of have to go on a date with him.” Bryce is absolutely zero help.
Picking up my glass of untouched wine, I take a big drink. “That's not what that means. I’m pretty sure he realizes I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“Either way, I think you should go on a date with him.”
Apparently, Mom is also on team Carlos. “I can’t mom. The only reason those words slipped out of my mouth is because Nathan was standing there with his condescending frown.” Even though he had someone younger than me on his arm, he still took the time out to be a complete ass.
“You can’t keep letting him affect you this way.” Mom takes my hand in hers. “It’s been years. And because of your actions, you need to go up there and apologize to Carlos. He doesn’t deserve to be thrown into it.”
She’s right. Hell, I knew that after I said it. But I panicked and ran. She also doesn’t know that I find him attractive. If he had waited to ask me out, maybe when David is much older, I would have said yes without hesitation. “I know, Mom. It was shitty of me to do, but I freaked out.”
“It doesn't matter. You’re grown, sweetheart. Stop letting that man control your actions,” she pauses for a second, “unless, of course, you secretly want Carlos to be your boyfriend.”
She’s not so wrong on that part. I’ll never let her know it, though. “No. I’ll clean up my own mess.” I stand, hoping it gives the signal I’m ready for them to leave. If I wanted to get crap for what I did, I don’t need their help. I’m doing a fine job of that on my own. “I think I’m going to bed. I need to make sure the girls aren’t swamped in the morning. Thank y’all for watching David. It really does mean a lot.”
“Please,” Mom scoffs. “You don’t need to thank us. What else would we be doing?”
“Um,” Bryce buts in, “she can thank me. Maybe even pay me.”
I pick up one of the pillows and throw it at him. It hits him in the face. Target hit. Sibling love at its finest.
“Children.” Mom grabs the pillow of out his hand to keep him from launching it right back at me. “Can the both of you act your age?” He sticks his tongue out at me and I give him the finger. “Okay, that’s it. You,” she points at me, “go to bed. Bryce, in the car.”
He grumbles something as he heads toward the door, but I don’t catch it. I probably shouldn’t get as much joy as I do in picking on him, but he’s done the same to me many times over. Even though he’s always done his best to help with David, he likes to throw digs when he can. “Goodnight, love y’all.”
“Love you, too,” they say at the same time as they walk out the door.