Chapter 34 #2
“Emma’s here, sitting at the other end of the table.” As soon as the words came out, they ran toward each other. They jumped up and down in greeting like schoolgirls.
I turned my attention back to Grant. “Thanks. They kind of suck.”
“I know a jealous mean girl when I see one.”
“Jealous of me?” I questioned. “What’s there to be jealous about?”
“You want me to complement you more, don’t you?” He nudged my shoulder.
I laughed softly. The door to our dining area opened with a new guest. I braced for my mom, but instead, someone I had hoped I’d never see again stepped through the door.
Andrés locked eyes with me and gave me his most smug smile.
I froze, the walls closing in around me.
I wanted to make the signal to the group that I needed to get as far away from him as possible.
“Hey, what happened? Are you okay?” Grant’s voice snapped me back to reality. My mom was right behind Andrés, walking toward us.
“My mom and her husband are here,” I voiced quietly.
“I didn’t realize she was married.” He noticed my distress. “I got you, just breathe.” He put his arm around my shoulders, and we faced my mom and Andrés.
“Happy birthday, mija.” My mom came in for a hug as if it hadn’t been years since we’d been in the same room together. I couldn’t be around her often once she married Andrés. She pulled back, standing close to Andrés, who gawked at me.
Grant shifted his eyes between the three of us, noticing the tension. “I’m Grant, Serenity’s plus one. You must be her mother.” He once again extended his hand to introduce himself.
“I didn’t know you were seeing anyone,” my mom said to me while shaking Grant’s hand.
I bit my tongue because we hadn’t had a real conversation since she married Andrés.
I refused to go to the wedding; I even gave her more information about what he did to me, but she married him anyway.
He abused her daughter, and she didn’t even believe she deserved better.
“I haven’t had the opportunity.” I shrugged.
Grant introduced himself to Andrés, and they moved to the side to talk.
I couldn’t help but notice Grant smiling and laughing while he talked with Andrés.
They even walked back to the table and sat across from each other to continue talking.
My mom and I followed, taking our seats next to each other at the table.
I made eye contact with Emma, who looked as mortified as I was. She walked over to me and whispered in my ear, “Do you want me to ask him to leave?”
“I don’t want to make a scene,” I replied. “I’ll be okay.”
Mikey walked in, yelling, “The party has arrived,” across the dining area. I laughed, thankful for the distraction.
Everyone fell into comfortable small talk around the table. I was still surprised she would bring Andrés. I thought I had made my boundaries clear. She hadn’t forced me to be around him since they got married, so why now?
The waiter came, bringing everyone’s drinks and taking our food orders. When Grant ordered, I caught Andrés’s gaze on me. I felt exposed, a flush of heat through my entire body, palms sweating. Grant’s hand rested on my thigh; I slowly turned to face him, and he gestured for us to breathe together.
Grant didn’t have the full details as to why I was experiencing such strong negative emotions, but he still noticed and took care of me.
Why couldn’t my mom understand and do the same?
She was the one who was supposed to take care of me, and she failed.
When she came around, she acted as if their actions didn’t completely ruin my life.
I fell into toxic relationships, I was used for sex by every man I’d been intimate with, and I could barely make friends because I couldn’t trust anyone.
“Finally, I’m starving,” Grant said as the waiter set down our food.
I’d lost my appetite, so I moved the food on my plate to give the impression I was eating. Unfortunately, Grant had a keen awareness and noticed right away that I hadn’t taken a bite of my food when he was practically done.
He nudged my shoulder and gave me a knowing expression. “I’m not feeling very hungry suddenly. I think I’ll take mine home and eat later tonight.”
He leaned close to me. “What’s really going on?” he whispered. “Is it your mom?”
I quickly looked over at my mom and Andrés, who were deep in conversation.
“I…”
“Let’s all sing Happy Birthday to the birthday girl,” Emma shouted across the table, interrupting my conversation with Grant.
“I’ll tell you later,” I quickly said before everyone broke out into song. I smiled and laughed as best I could, but everyone’s eyes on me made me sweat. I could keep it together until I got home; I had to.
Grant cut the cake while Emma handed out slices to everyone. “I brought you a centerpiece with barely any frosting.” Grant handed me the perfect slice of strawberry cake.
“Has anyone told you lately that you’re the best?” I winked at him.
“Has anyone told you lately that you have a cute nose?” He proceeded to dip his finger in the frosting of his slice of cake and poke it onto my nose.
I gasped. “How dare you. I spent at least ten minutes doing my nose makeup.”
We both burst into laughter.
“What’s so funny?” My mom approached us, hand in hand with Andrés.
I turned to look at her with the frosting still on my nose. “Look what Grant did.” I continued laughing until I saw the disapproving look on her face. I relaxed my expression and grabbed a napkin off the table to wipe my nose.
She scrunched her face in disapproval. “That’s a little childish, don’t you think?”
I clenched my jaw, avoiding her glare.
“Okay, that’s enough,” Grant chimed in.
We all looked up at him in surprise. “It’s okay,” I reassured him.
He put his arm around me before turning his attention to my mom.
“Today is Serenity’s birthday, and she has been on edge and unhappy since the second you walked through the door.
Instead of being happy that she’s having a little fun on her birthday, you chastise her like she’s a child.
She’s not a child, and she’s fully capable of doing whatever the hell she wants.
She has been too nice to say it, but I think it’s time for you to leave. ”
My mom’s face was bright red with anger. Andrés stepped in front of her before she had a chance to fight back.
“We’re sorry for intruding. We’ll be heading out,” Andrés said, leading my mom toward the door.
I couldn’t believe he stuck up for me like that. I watched them walk out the door. My mom didn’t even give me a hug or say goodbye. Luckily, no one else seemed to notice the commotion, so I fell into Grant’s arms to compose myself before going back to the rest of the group.
“Did your mom leave?” Aunt Benita asked.
“Yes, I think she was in a hurry for something,” I lied.
Aunt Benita sighed. “Just like her to leave without saying goodbye. Did you have a good time at least?”
“It’s always a great time when you’re here.” I lay my head on her shoulder; she kissed the top of my head.
“I should get going myself—let you youngins finish off the party.”
I walked Aunt Benita out, and soon Allie, Sasha, and Mikey were saying goodbyes as well.
“Let’s get the heck out of here,” I said to the group. Emma and I gathered our purses, and the guys grabbed the presents from the table.
Once we were back in the truck, I closed my eyes, trying to erase the image of seeing him again.
“I didn’t see your mom leave,” Emma said. “Did she get mad like she always does?”
Grant and I snuck a glance at each other and smiled. I knew in my gut that I was ready to divulge the true trauma I endured to Grant. I never felt comfortable telling anyone I was dating the full truth, not even Shawn, who I thought was my safety.
I just hadn’t known true safety yet.