“I just have a lot on my mind at work,” I answered.
“Usually, Fridays are the most relaxing day of the week.”
“We had a lot of grant requests this week. I didn’t get to all of them, and may have to work this weekend so I’m not behind on Monday morning.”
“There’s the Hanover work ethic!” he said. “If you always get a head start then you’ll never be behind. Make sure to send out a few emails too, so your bosses know you’re working on the weekend.”
“That’s actually part of the stress,” I said. “My boss, Allison, is retiring.”
“Good for her!” Mom said. “She can spend more time with her grandchildren.” She focused on her garlic bread and added, “It must be nice.”
I rolled my eyes at her.
“As long as you and Kai are not breaking up,” she said.
“I promise, we are not.” Which wasn’t really a lie, since the two of us weren’t reallytogetherin the traditional sense.
“Don’t screw things up with that man,” Mom added.
“Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“What? I’m just making sure you know you have something special. Your father and I saw the way he looked at you.”
“How did he look at me?” I asked.
“Like he’s falling in love,” Dad said, leaning across the table. He paused for emphasis. “As someone who has been in that position before, I know it when I see it.”
“Oh, dear.” Mom reached over and squeezed his hand. “The point is: don’t let Kai go.”
“I’ll do my best.”
I thought about that while collecting the dishes and cleaning up. Were they reading into things? Projecting what they wanted onto the fake relationship Kai and I had? Or was he breaking his own rule and catching feels, just like he had told me not to?
I stopped thinking about it when Dad opened a piece of mail and cursed. “I don’t believe this.Again.”
“What is it?” Mom asked.
He waved the letter. “Our rent is going up.”
“That’s the third time this year!”
I sighed. Even though I had already known it was coming, it still stung to see my parents react to the news. Sandra Trout was at it again.
“That woman is ruining Fort Perth,” Dad cursed while rolling over to the fridge to get another beer. “Everyone says so. Even the big-wigs downtown.”
“I’ve heard the same,” I said. “My rent is going up, too.”
“Do we need to move?” Mom sat at the table and read the letter. “We can’t keep absorbing these rent costs. I’ve taken as many cleaning shifts as I can get my hands on. Between that and your disability checks…”
“We’ll manage,” Dad said stubbornly.
“We can’t keep stretching our finances.”
“Don’t worry,” I said. “I can pitch in.”
“Absolutely not,” they both said at the same time. “Parents are supposed to take care of their children. Not the other way around.”
“I’m making good money at the foundation. And it would only be temporary. Let me cover the additional rent.”