Chapter 19 #2
His eyebrows furrow together as he looks away from me. The look says he is thoroughly concerned that anyone who randomly tosses ‘vagina’ into a normal conversation could be in charge of a child’s psychological health.
Which is rich, considering I wouldn’t let him near my vagina with a ten-foot pole.
I excuse myself to the bathroom and practically run down the hall, desperate to get away from this conversation.
I slam the door behind me and firmly lock it before leaning against the bathroom counter.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and immediately dial my best friend, knowing I’ll go out of my mind if someone doesn’t talk some sense into me.
The first call goes to voicemail.
He picks up on the fourth ring of the second call.
“Are you seriously calling me in the middle of a holiday?” Sam asks when answering the phone. “A holiday in which you know my family takes incredibly seriously?”
“My mother is crazy,” I hiss.
“And this is news to you?”
“She invited a guy over to join us for dinner.”
“And?”
“He’s a gynecologist.”
I’m met with dead silence before Sam bursts out laughing. “It could be a good thing,” Sam gets out between spurts of giggles. “Maybe he really knows his way around the female anatomy.”
“He lives in his mother’s basement.”
More hysterical laughter. I bite the inside of my cheek, wanting to stay grumpy, but Sam’s amusement is infectious. And I suppose it is a little funny. “Why doesn’t he live in his childhood bedroom?”
“He told me the walls are too thin, and he was tired of his mom overhearing him fucking the girls he brings home,” I deadpan.
“Oh god,” Sam says, disgust evident in his tone. “He really said that to you?”
“No, Sam,” I roll my eyes. “I didn’t ask this random ass man why he lives in his mother’s basement as opposed to any other room in the house.”
“You really need to work on your sarcastic voice.”
“Sam, I called you because I cannot put up with either of these people for one second longer.”
“Can you leave?”
“It’s a four-and-a-half-hour drive home,” I respond hesitantly.
“I mean, you have to make that drive eventually, right?”
“What am I supposed to do, spend the rest of the break alone?”
“Is it better than spending it with your mother and the gynecologist?”
“You make an excellent point.”
“Don’t I always?”
I run a hand through my hair, already wishing I were home with my cat.
“How’s Milo?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood.
My mother never allows Milo in the house.
She claims she’s allergic, but I know she just doesn’t want cat hair on her furniture.
So, Sam takes Milo home with him during breaks—his mother absolutely adores her and insists she sleeps in her room at night. I’m sure Sam’s dad loves that.
“Happy to be fawned over by her biggest fan,” he says, and I can hear the fondness in his voice.
“Your mother spoils her.”
“Probably why Milo loves her better than me.”
“Honestly, Milo might love your mother more than me,” I laugh.
“Look,” Sam says gently. “I love you. You know I love you, but we also know that you’re stalling. I have to go. I brought Derek home with me to meet the family, and if I’m gone much longer, he’s going to think that I abandoned him.”
“Aw,” I coo. “You brought Derek home with you?”
“Don’t make a big deal out of it,” Sam grits out.
“But it is a big deal,” I respond smugly. “You never bring boys home with you.”
“Well, we’ve been seeing each other for a while now,” he sniffs.
“So does that mean you’re not seeing anyone else now?” I ask, not caring how nosy I’m being. I hear Sam groan on the other line. “Did you guys have the talk?” I continue in a sing-song voice.
“Yes.”
“I love this.”
“I hate you.”
“Has your mom asked if he’s the one yet?”
“Goodbye, Summer.”
“Bye, Sam.” I smile before hanging up.
I’m exiting the bathroom when I nearly crash into my mother. “Summer,” she says in a tone that implies I’m about to get a serious talking to. “You left Mitch all alone in the dining room.”
“I had to use the bathroom.”
She gives me a knowing look. “You were in there an awfully long time.”
“Well, you see, I dropped my container of cocaine, and it took me forever to save as much as I could.” I tap the side of my nose, making my mother’s scowl deepen.
“Do you ever think your sense of humor is one of the reasons why you’re still single?”
“It’s actually my defense mechanism, and it is one hundred percent the reason I’m still single.”
She lets out an angry sigh. “For once, can you please just try?”
“Did it ever occur to you that maybe I would try if being set up was something I actually wanted? You said you weren’t inviting anyone over while I visited.
” I point angrily down the hall toward the dining room.
“And here we are, with one of your friends’ random kids in our house.
Another Nyx family holiday, ruined by your desperate need for grandchildren. ”
I know as soon as I say the words, how harsh they are, even before my mother takes a step back in shock, but I can’t bring myself to take them back. I’m pissed. I drove all the way out here thinking it would be just us two, and she couldn’t even give me that.
I push past her and stalk into the kitchen, grab the nearest bottle of wine, and start pouring it into the first wine glass I see.
My mother is right on my heels as she enters the kitchen and stops in the doorway, crossing her arms and tapping her foot impatiently.
I pour the glass nearly full and smirk at my mother’s disapproving look. I take a healthy sip before addressing her. “Why do you do that?” I ask.
“Do what?”
“Constantly try and set me up with whatever available man you can find?”
She sighs. “I just worry about you.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m fine, Mom.”
“You’ve never been great at dating, Summer. I just don’t want you to ignore your possibilities and find out down the line that you were too late.”