Page 46 of Falling for You

“A simple hello would have been nice to start with,” she says, disdain clear as day in her voice. It’s not lost on me that she doesn’t even touch the question about why we haven’t spoken in a while. She’d much rather bury her head in the sand and throw blame everywhere but at herself.

When I give in and say hello, she sighs as if I’m the one who’s a pain in her ass. Like I’m the one interrupting her day. I was perfectly happy, thinking of Chloe and our kiss. Going over the next project I’m working on. Hell, I’d rather be doing yardwork right now than listening to her bitchy voice. Could have ignored her call. But I didn’t. Because I’m an idiot.

“Your brother needs you.”

“I got that. I also don’t care.”

“He’s your brother.”

“And when has he ever given that a thought? He wouldn’t know the first thing about what it means to be a sibling.”

“This is why…” she cuts herself off and I take a seat on one of my patio chairs. Patiently waiting for her to recover from what she was about to admit. That this is why they don’t give a shit about me, never pay attention to me, don’tlikeme.

“Yes? This is why, what? What is it you caught yourself before admitting?”

Even after all these years, I can still imagine her narrowing her eyes at me, tapping her fingernails against the countertop like she did so often when I was little and she was annoyed with my presence. Probably sipping on a martini, as well. “This is why you two have never been close. Because you’re so private. Closed off, even. None of us had a chance with you.”

I don’t dignify that bullshit with a response. Everything in life has always been my fault. When I was eight, he kicked over a Lego tower I was building and it was my fault because I’d built it on the floor — of my bedroom, mind you — and in his way. A month after he got his driver’s license, he hit a parked car backing out of our driveway. That was my fault because I was inside the house taking a shower rather than standing outside being his spotter. The best was when he was a senior in high school and the football team didn’t make it into the quarter finals.Thatwas my fault because I didn’t care to go out for football and if I’d have been on the team, supporting him, they would have won. I’m sure the world’s hunger problem is my fault too.

“How much does Troy need?”

“What do you mean?” she asks innocently.

I might not be a millionaire, but I do alright for myself. Single, living modestly, working my ass off days and nights, I’ve saved like crazy. They’re unfortunately not stupid enough not to realize it, too.

“Cut the shit, Mom. We haven’t spoken in, what is it, six years? Why now? If it’s not money, then what is it?”

I count to ten, about to hang up. I tell her as much before she cries out. “Fine. It’s money. Amber left. Took the kids and everything.”

“Ha! Let me guess. She caught him with another woman?”

“She claims that he was being unfaithful, yes. However, if that is true — and I’m not saying it is — it’s only because she pushed him to it. Never appreciated all the hard work and long hours he put in so they could live in that gorgeous house. He would come home to a mess every day! Barely had home cooked meals more than a handful of times a week. And, this is awkward, for sure, that I know this, but do you know that she wouldn’t,” she lowers her voice, “have sex with him?”

“So the two children they have together didn’t come from having sex?”

“Don’t sass your mother, Rex.” I want to laugh at the word mother. She hasn’t been a mother to me since she realized I wasn’t going to fit into the mold they had for me. “You know exactly what I mean.”

There’s no doubt in my mind that even if Amber were giving it up to him three times a day, he’d still have stepped out on their marriage. And if memory serves me right, that gorgeous house of theirs probably had more to do with his wants than hers. She was always… simple. Not plain or boring, just content. He never was. Nothing was ever flashy enough for my brother. “How is her leaving him my problem?”

“He has nothing!”

“And? I thought he had agreatjob. Works all sorts of hours at said job. Why doesn’t he have money?”

“Didn’t you hear what I said? That bitch took everything!”

Here’s the deal. I know it’s not true. And Amber is hardly a bitch. Did she fuck me over? Yes. But I was going to ask her to marry me and I’d hardly ask someone like she’s describing to be my wife.

“I would probably refrain from calling the mother of your grandchildren a bitch. Especially if you want to have a relationship with them in the future.”

“She’s taking them away, too!” she cries out.

“Again. Why are you telling me any of this? I hate to say it, but none of this comes as a surprise. In fact, he probably has a second family somewhere and that’s why Amber left him. He’s not been faithful to another human being his entire life. Not even friendships. Hell, even to me, his own brother.”

Mom’s heavy breathing vanishes and I’m greeted with a deathly silence. Holy shit.

“Mom?”

“Yes?” she asks, voice shaky.

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