Page 25 of Brutal Days

“I can’t argue with her about the colors and what she imagines the venue will look like. And you would look stunning in the satin, off-the-shoulder bridesmaid dresses she’s sketched and fixed into her dream wedding book.” Mom smiled.

I scrunched my nose. “I can’t think about wearing a light-pink dress, now or by her dream age of twenty-two, when she’ll be at the altar with her Ken doll groom.”

Mom’s smile widened. “She’s so much of what you’re not.”

“Right.” I sighed, not wanting to think about that. Or what a mess I’d gotten myself into to make sure Gia had the senior year of her dreams.

“What I mean is, it’s okay not to dream about a wedding. Or plan to have two point five kids and a house with a white picket fence. It’ll either happen that way, or something different will. The point is to not close yourself off to the possibility of love.”

“Spoken from a woman who says she’s not ready.”

Sarcasm bled from my words, and Mom lobbed one of the couch throw pillows at my head, which I barely caught in time.

“Fine,” she said.

“Oh, fine?” I joked. “You’re using that word? We both know what that means.”

Mom rolled her eyes. “How about I make you a deal.”

“I’m listening.”

“I’ll keep myself open to dating—”

“So, not an automatic no if a cute guy that interests you asks you out for dinner or coffee?”

“Right.” She looked to the ceiling and blew out a breath. “I won’t shoot this potential guy down if he happens to ask me out.”

I grinned. “That’s all I ask.”

“Good. Now can we watch the movie?”

I nodded, feeling much lighter than when we’d first sat down to watch. If Mom said she would try, I believed her. If only the rest of my life would fall into place as quickly. She pressed play, and we both fell silent, easily getting into the story.

A half hour into the movie, my phone started blowing up. I swiped it from the table and barely stopped myself from growling. Damon was out with Gia and messaging me. Negotiating.

Damon:Never stop using that cherry lip gloss

Me:R u drunk?

I was done. I set my phone back on the coffee table, making sure it was turned facedown, and did my best to ignore it while it buzzed like a pesky insect.

“Everything all right?” Mom asked.

“Yep.”

“What about school? Because I get the distinct feeling you’re hiding from someone.” She looked pointedly at my phone.

I rolled my eyes and gave her my best exasperated expression. “You’re overreacting. I’m fine.”

“Okay.” She paused the movie. “Want some popcorn?”

“Yes, thanks.”

She got up, and I grabbed my phone, intent on telling him to knock it off.

I swore under my breath. I had about twenty messages. Eighteen were from Damon, and two were from Gia. I ignored Damon’s and read Gia’s.

Gia:Damon took me out tonight. He apologized for lunch. And tonight was going great, but then he got all moody and dumped me at home. No plans for another date. Please call.

---