Page 127 of The Disasters of Dating
“Name any one of them that I’ve had throughout my life, then.”
She rolls her eyes. “Fine. Blue.”
“Meh,” I make a buzzer sound. “Nope. Never once has blue been my favorite color. In fact, purple has always been my favorite.” I fold my arms across my chest. “You want one that matters? What am I getting my degree in?”
Grandma Alice purses her lips. “This is all nonsense.”
“Meh,” I beep at her. “Business. Which you would know if you ever asked anything about us. But you don’t. When you call, it’s only to order us to Alaska. Maybe we’d want to come, if you cared even a jot or tittle about us as people…not as commodities.”
“Is everything okay in here, Michelle?” Adam pokes his head in the slider.
“Yep. We’re good. Alice is just leaving.”
Grandma Alice narrows her eyes. “And who is that?”
My mom opens her mouth, but I cut her off. “It’s no one you’ll care about, so there’s no need for an introduction. Now I believe you have someplace to be, Grandma?”
“I have no other plans.”
“That’s too bad,” I say in a sickeningly sweet tone. “It will likely make the time before you fly out much more trying. More’s the pity for you.” I lead them to the front door. “Okay, goodbye now. It was a pleasure to meet you, Dorian. Sorry things didn’t work out for you.” When they are firmly on the steps outside, I close the door behind them.
I lean against the door and sigh. “Phew.”
My mom comes and wraps her arms around me. “That was masterfully done, Soda.”
“Well, it was a crap contract. I can’t believe she thinks so little of us.”
My mom drapes her arms around my shoulders. “Come on, let’s go enjoy the party.”
I’m lying in bed after everyone has left. Keaton never did make it. Not that I’m surprised. After it wasn’t him at the door, I gave up hope.
I pull up my contacts and text the only person whom I can tell my deep secrets to.
Remember that crappy day I told you about? I think tonight might have topped it.
Lincoln
Uh-oh.
Did I tell you my mom has a boyfriend?
Lincoln
You may have mentioned it.
I frown. Did I? I’d meant it as a rhetorical question. I don’t remember telling him about it because I wasn’t sure how to tell him without mentioning Keaton.
Yep. His name is Adam. And suddenly all these things that my mom and I have done, like, forever, have gone by the wayside.
Lincoln
Like what?
Movie night. We used to do it every Monday night. I arranged my work schedule so that I would always have that night off. And bowling. We haven’t been in almost six months. We used to eat at least one meal a day together. I can count on two hands the number of meals we’ve had together this month. Everything has changed.
Lincoln
Hmm. Adam. He sounds shifty.
