Page 35 of Isn't She Lucky
“You lied, Ma!”
“You were fourteen, Giada. I was protecting you.”
“Yeah, you sure were,” I say, leaving the room with the letter and her on my trail, saying my name over and over again, but I’mnot trying to hear her. Not right now. I can’t. I have to get out of here.
“Giada.”
“What!” I snap. “What do you want from me, Ma? What else do you want to take away from me? Hmm? Two years ago, you ran into Kasim. He told you to tell me hi. Did you conveniently forget to relay that message as well? I wasn’t fourteen two years ago. I was twenty-six, and you still were making sure I never connected with him. Explain that. How was that protecting me?”
She drops her head.
I say, “Yeah. That’s what I thought.”
I grab my purse from the sofa where I left it upon coming inside and quickly exit by way of the front door. I start my car and peel out of the driveway, not sure where I’m going at the moment. It’ll take a good half hour to get back to Cornelius so I pull over at the QuikTrip and sit there, crying my eyes out over something that happened so long ago. I cry because I’m upset about the whole thing. I cry because my mother lied to me. I cry because Kasim Noble was my first and last crush. My best friend. And I loved him too. That’s why it was a blow to me to hear my mother tell me what he said. Thinking all these years that I wasn’t good enough for him, and it had all been a lie she made up to keep us away from each other.
That’s not okay. I know she’s my mother and all, and she was looking out for my best interests, but lying is never okay.
I wipe my eyes for the millionth time and remove my phone from my purse when I hear it buzz. I know it’s her. I know it is, and I cannot talk to her right now. Surely I’d say something I can’t take back. It’s best I just be quiet.
I glance at the screen. It’s not her after all. It’s a text from Kasim.
Where are you??
That one came through five minutes ago. Another one comes through while I’m still holding the phone:
Please don’t ignore me, Giada. You were upset when you left here. I just want to make sure you’re safe.
I reply:
Giada: I’m safe.
Kasim: Call me.
Giada: I can’t right now.
Kasim: Call me.
I don’t want to call him because I won’t be able to keep it together on the phone. But I don’t want to ignore his request either. I think I owe him that much.
I dial his number. I didn’t hear the phone ring before I heard him say, “Where are you?”
“I’m at a gas station,” I say, my words as broken as my heart.
“Stop crying. I’m sorry for all of this.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“It’s my fault that you’re in tears right now. I never meant to hurt you.”
I attempt to dry my eyes and calm myself down. It’s not working.
“I can come and get you, G.”
“No. I’ll be alright.”
“I need you here so I can make sure of that.”
“I’ll be back as soon as I can, Kase.”
