Chapter Seven #2
She pulls back just enough to look at me. “Now send Dexter a message and tell him you’re dating Austin Reed, your new boyfriend.”
My jaw drops. “What?”
I stare at her, waiting for her to tell me she’s kidding, but she doesn’t say anything else.
“Mom, I’m not going to lie to him.”
She shrugs unapologetically. “It’s not that far from the truth.”
I narrow my eyes. “Okay, who are you, and what have you done with my mother?”
She grins. “I have a good feeling about Austin. I think you’re going to have a great time with him.”
“Mother.” I let out a laugh of disbelief and cover my eyes with my hands. “Even if we have the best time ever, that does not magically make him my boyfriend.”
“Dexter doesn’t need to know that,” she reminds me. “And honestly, sending him that message tells him you’ve moved on. And reminds him of what he gave up.”
Well, she’s right about one thing…I have moved on.
At least, I’m trying to.
Dexter will probably always hold a piece of my heart, but my life can’t stay stuck in the past because of someone who’s no longer in it. Maybe there’s a part of me that’s been afraid to date again.
No matter what might happen with Austin or any other man, it has nothing to do with replacing Dexter.
“I don’t need to share details about my personal life to move on.”
“He doesn’t need to have any details,” my mom says.
I stare at her in shock. “Wow. I can’t believe we’re having this conversation.”
She shrugs again. “I’m just suggesting you take control of the situation. This shuts the door before he tries to push his way back in.”
I press my lips together and glance down at my phone resting in my lap. Am I really considering this? My mother has never steered me wrong before.
“Fine,” I mutter. “But if this completely backfires, I’m telling everyone my mother made me do it.”
She laughs. “That’s fine.”
I pull up Dexter’s message before typing carefully.
Hey Dexter. Thanks for reaching out and checking on me.
It’s been a rough few weeks, but I’m doing better.
I’ve been staying with my parents while I recover, and they’ve been taking really good care of me.
I’ve also started seeing someone, so things are finally looking up despite everything. Hope you’re doing well too.
“How’s this?” I ask, handing her my phone.
She reads over the message, nodding approvingly.
Then before I can react, she types a few more words and hits send.
“Mom!” I shriek, lunging to grab my phone.
“Oh calm down,” she says innocently. “It was good. I just tweaked it a little.”
When I get my phone back, I read the edited version of the text with my mother’s tweaks.
His name is Austin.
I stare at the screen in horror before looking up at her. “You added his name?”
“Yes. It makes it sound official.”
I shake my head in disbelief.
“At least you didn’t include his last name and profession,” I mutter. “I guess I should count that as a win.”
But I should probably keep my phone far away from her, just in case.
“Okay,” I warn. “That’s it. No more mentioning my fake boyfriend to anyone else.”
She flashes me an innocent smile. “I won’t.”
I wish I believed her. What if she starts telling everyone that her daughter is dating one of the Carolina Bears? My stomach suddenly feels heavy. Since when did my mother turn into the bad influence? And why did I let her talk me into it?
I continue sorting through my stuff, and my mom heads out to run some errands.
My phone has been quiet since I sent the message. I don’t know if Dexter will respond or not. Was he just checking in with no ulterior motive?
I’m reading through some old journals when my phone rings. My pulse instantly speeds up until I see Elise’s number.
“Hey.”
“What’s going on there?” she shrieks.
“Um, nothing. What’s up with you?”
“Well, I just got a text from Dexter asking about your new boyfriend, Austin. He wants to know how long you’ve been together.”
Ugh. I’m suddenly sick to my stomach. I didn’t know how Dexter would respond to my message, but I certainly didn’t expect him to text my roommate.
“Your boyfriend? Why are you holding out on me? Last time we spoke you were going out with a group of friends for the first time. What am I missing?”
What a mess.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I explain.
“Okay, I’m so lost. Why would Dexter, who has never texted me, ask me about him? And how would he even know about Austin?”
I let out a heavy sigh before trying to explain Dexter’s message and about my mother’s stupid idea that seems to be backfiring already.
Elise laughs. “This was your mom’s idea. I can’t believe it.”
“I know,” I exclaim. “I should’ve never listened to her…”
“But you wanted to see how Dex would react.” This is more of a statement than a question.
“Maybe? I don’t know,” I wail. “Everything feels so confusing right now.”
“Apparently,” she says.
“Did you respond to him yet?” I ask.
“No. I had to call you and find out what was going on.”
“And by the way, you know I’d tell you something as important as that. I’d never keep news like that from you.”
She giggles. “I should hope so.”
I chew on my lip as I try to gather my thoughts.
“Anyway, I’ll just tell him I don’t know all the details,” she tells me. “Leave it as vague as possible.”
“I’m sorry you got dragged into this.”
She laughs. “Don’t apologize. It’s kind of fun knowing Dexter is freaked out enough to text me.”
I’m quiet, remembering what my mom said about Dex.
“Do you think Dex is threatened by the attention that comes with my career?” I ask finally. “That’s what my mom thinks.”
“Oh, for sure,” she exclaims.
“Wow. I can’t believe I never considered that could have led to us splitting up. I really believed it was the timing.”
How could I have missed it?
“Don’t you dare blame yourself for the relationship not working out,” she snaps.
“I’m not,” I say softly. At least not completely.
“Anyway, he hasn’t responded to my message. I guess he thought he’d get more information out of you.”
She scoffs. “Ha. Not a chance. I will give him the least bit of information possible.”
“Thanks, girl.”
We talk for a few more minutes until Elise gets a work phone call.
One thing is for sure. I won’t let my mom talk me into anymore of her brilliant ideas.