Page 29 of Saving You Losing Me

I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m still antsy about mom’s reaction to Atom yesterday and I sigh heavily.

“Look, I’m sorry if I’m edgy. I had an argument with my mom and I’m still angry. I shouldn’t take it out on you.”

“Parents.” He chuckles softly. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“It wouldn’t hurt, I guess.”

He has gifted me the perfect opportunity to make my position clear, so I say brusquely, “She doesn’t approve of my boyfriend.”

I detect a tightening of his hands on the wheel, but his voice is even in his reply. “That sucks.”

“It does because I really like the guy and whatever my parents say won’t change that.”

“They wouldn’t approve. Why not?”

“Because he doesn’t have the right credentials. He’s not a member of the country club—which is a terrible sin in their book—apparently.”

“I see your problem. So, what happens now?”

I point to the right at the junction and, as he turns, I shrug. “I don’t need their permission. I’m officially an adult now.”

“They may make things difficult for you, though.”

“They could, but they won’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m my father’s daughter and there are ways of getting what I want.”

He laughs out loud. “I knew I liked you, Clara. It’s just a shame someone else got there first.”

“They did.”

He says casually. “So, how long have you been seeing him?”

“A couple of days.”

“Wow. And you really think that much of him to risk pissing off your parents. I must meet this guy.”

“It’s complicated.”

I study my perfect manicure and he says softly, “Where did you meet him?”

“High school.”

“But I thought you said you’d only been together for a couple of days.”

“It’s true. You see, he was a couple of years above me and left. I knew back then I liked him, but we never even spoke. I heard he went to Easy Joes, a bar in town and so as soon as I could, I got a job there clearing tables just so I could see him again.”

He falls silent and I doubt he approves of me taking a low-paid job to crush on some guy, but I don’t care.

“Anyway, I was working on my birthday, and he told me he was coming to meet me after my shift. Apparently, the attraction was mutual, and it turned out I had been on his radar too. Well, the rest, as they say, is history and now I want to be with him, whatever that takes.”

“I can’t pretend I’m not disappointed, Clara.”

“Why?” I’m not sure why I asked because it’s obvious and he sighs.

“I like you. You are everything I search for in a girlfriend and I kind of hoped the feeling was mutual. Friendship will do though, if that’s okay with you.”

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