Page 112 of Roommate's Guide to Love

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porter

I don't know why,but I never deleted my mother's phone number. The last time I used it was almost nine years ago, when I realized Pops didn’t have that much longer to live. I thought she’d want to know that her ex-husband and the father of one of her children was dying. She then had the audacity to ask me if he had left her anything in his will. I don't even think I said goodbye when I hung up on her.

I should’ve deleted it then. I had no reason to talk to her again after that. Yet, there was something that always made me keep it. I guess that something is today.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Quinn asks, holding my hands as I stare down at the screen. All I need to do is hit the green button and the call would go through. But I’ve been staring at it, frozen, for the past ten minutes.

In reality, I’ve been in a daze for the past few hours. Once it hit me what she was doing, I couldn’t concentrate on anything else and all thoughts of a celebratory dinner were out the window. I knew I needed to call Bonnie and try to figure out what her game was, but I didn't trust myself to not lose it and scare Gracie. So Quinn and I hurriedly packed her up and took her to Wes and Betsy’s. They told me they’d keep her as long as I needed. Which is good, because once I speak to Bonnie, I have no idea what’s going to happen.

"I have to. Something doesn’t feel right about this. She’s up to something.”

"How do you know?"

"Because even though I haven’t had a relationship with her since I was a teenager, I know my mother well enough to know that she wouldn't be doing this without a reason. And before I get lawyers involved, I need to know what I'm up against.”

Before I lose my nerve, I let go of Quinn's hands for just the second I need to hit the call button and switch onto speakerphone.

The phone only rings once before my mother's voice sends a chill down my spine.

“I was wondering when I'd hear from you.”

“Bonnie,” I say evenly, not giving her the satisfaction of hearing me riled up. Or calling her “Mom,” because she sure as shit doesn’t deserve that title.

“How are you? How’s my granddaughter? I’ve wanted to?—”

“Cut the crap, Bonnie. What do you want?”

I hear her snicker, which is somehow more cruel than the custody petition. “Can’t we catch up? It’s been so long.”

This woman’s audacity is growing with every word that comes out of her mouth. “You want to catch up? Then meet me at The Joint in an hour.”

“The Joint? Oh Porter, you know I can’t do that. I don’t live?—”

“Don’t lie. I saw you the other day. I know you’re in town. Be there in an hour.”

I hang up the phone before she can say anything else.

“Do you think she’ll come?”

“Yeah. Whatever game she wants to play, she needs me for it. She’ll be there.”

“Hey,” Quinn turns me to face her as the adrenaline rush crashes through me. “Are you okay? Are you ready for this?”

My head falls, suddenly the impact of everything hitting me.

I’m about to see my mom. And she wants Grace.

“I have to be,” I say. “I have no other choice.”

“You could just get lawyers involved,” Quinn says. “If it’s too much to face her, let the lawyers handle it.”

I shake my head. “I will if I need to. But she’s here, and she’s choosing to fuck with my family. And no one, not even blood, fucks with my family.”

“Okay then,” Quinn says as she stands up and she starts swinging her arms around.

“What are you doing?”

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