Page 54 of Running Into You
“Of course not.” I’m not that lucky. It had been weeks since that first phone call from her. With everything that’s happened since then with Josh, I somehow managed to push it from my mind. “How are you?”
“As well as can be expected with my current schedule. You have no idea how demanding academia can be. I have not been able to come up for air for months now. Being a sought-after lecturer takes its toll, eventually.”
I wonder what it must be like to love the sound of your own voice to this extent. My mother sounds most content when she can be given free rein in a conversation. She continues to complain about the personal cost of being brilliant and popular, and I listen without interrupting. By the time she switches gears, I’ve just made it home.
“Well, if I talk much longer, I won’t have anything to say at the restaurant this evening.”
Hold the fucking phone. What restaurant and when?
“This evening?” I ask.
My mother clicks her tongue in irritation.
“You’re doing it again, Elizabeth. Repeating the last thing I said back to me in question form. You’re an adult, you should speak like one.” The unhappy tone of her voice is one I’m very familiar with.
“I’m sorry, mom but I’m not sure what you’re talking about. I didn’t know we were having dinner tonight.”
“My TA Bridget sent you a calendar invite more than a week ago. She cc’d me on the email. Are you saying you didn’t receive it?”
The last time my mother would have emailed me anything would have been at least four years ago. I’ve switched email accounts since then.
“I’m sorry, that email account has been inactive for years.”
“Well, how was I to know that if you didn’t tell me, Elizabeth?” Her sigh hits me straight in the chest. “Are you available this evening? I blocked off the time with the specific intent of seeing you.”
I could say no. I could tell her I do have plans. I’m meeting friends. I’ve got a work event. I’m under the weather. I’m attending a dinner at which I’m the guest of honor. I’m moonlighting as a magician’s lovely assistant and tonight he’s finally going to saw me half in front of hundreds of people.
“Yes. I’m free tonight.”
She laughs coldly and I pause on the stairs.
“Really, Elizabeth? You’re a twenty-three-year-old and it’s Saturday.”
I’m twenty-five. Breathe, Betty.
“What restaurant would you like to go to?” I ask, letting myself into my apartment. I slip out of my shoes and walk directly to my closet.
“The reservation is for 8:00 p.m. at Ornate. Have you eaten there before? It came highly recommended by a colleague.”
The most stuck-up dining experience in the state, naturally. I’m going to have to wear work clothes.
“I haven’t, but I’ve heard good things. I will see you this evening, Mom.”
“Looking forward to it,” she says and immediately ends the call.
“That makes one of us,” I say aloud to myself.
Chapter 32
Betty
The Uber drops me off two blocks from the restaurant at my request. I need a bit of cold night air to clear my head before I see her. I walk slowly and breathe deeply, mentally preparing myself for battle. Digging my phone out of my pocket, I see I have no new messages. Josh had texted me earlier to see how things went with Maggie. I’d been attempting to curl my hair at the time and had sent him a quick response.
Me:It went well. Can I fill you in tomorrow?
Me:Just getting ready to go somewhere.
Josh:Sure. Have a good night.
