Page 20 of Out of Bounds
“I suppose that’s him?” she whispers.
“That’s her type.” Yup it sure is and I shouldn’t have expected anything less for the princess.
“Bree,” Mama’s voice catches me off guard.
She clips in her little heels meeting us halfway. Shelby is right behind her with her big Dolly Parton curls.
“Hey Mama,” I say. “Hi Shelby.” She prefers I don’t call her aunt. She says it makes her feel old, so we all call her by her first name. I guess that makes sense since she’s only in her late forties.
“Hi girls,” Shelby says looking from me to Quinn.
Quinn gives a little wave.
“Where’s Liev?” Mama asks looking over Quinn’s shoulder. “Will he be joining us later?”
I glance at Shelby. I haven’t spoken to anybody yet and I hoped I wouldn’t have to tonight.
The look she gives me tells me she already knows I’m not with Liev anymore.
“He’s not coming,” I tell my very eager mother whose face falls at the declaration.
“Why’s that honey? Is he sick? He was excited about joining us.”
I’m sure that was all fake. I look back at her and I want to lie to make things easier if only for tonight, but I’m so tired of doing things like that to make life easier.
Anyone else would have called their mother and told them the truth. I couldn’t because I know Mama would find some way of blaming me. Even if I told her the whole truth with all the colorful parts. Lord help me if I did, and the others found out.
“Mama we’re not together anymore,” I say and Mama’s eyes bulge.
Shelby on the other hand looks cool and composed.
“What did you do?”
This is exactly what I mean. Questions like that.
“I didn’t do anything. We just decided to end things.” I can embellish that part.
Mama places her hand to her heart. “I don’t believe this. You don’t just decide to end a six-moth relationship.”
“Sally, maybe you and Bree should talk about this some other time,” Shelby suggests taking Mama’s arm. “Now’s not the place.”
“Oh please, trust you to be on her side,” Mama snaps. “This is why she’s not married yet, because you keep filling her head with nonsense to make her pickier.”
“On the contrary, my dear sister. It’s my duty to tell my niece she shouldn’t settle for any less than a man who can give her hot sex. If he’s not great in bed kick him out.” Shelby smiles knowing exactly how to annoy my mother.
While Quinn laughs and Mama’s skin turns the same hue as her dress Shelby looks back to me.
“Is that what happened dear?” she asks me.
“Yes, something like that.” I chuckle.
My family, or rather her. I can always count on Shelby to save the day in some way.
Any reprieve from Mama is only felt momentarily because here comes Lucille and Prince De Longsell. Up close he looks even more like 007.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Lucille bubbles rushing up to me to give me a hug. It’s fake and probably for show in front of the prince, but hey. I hug her too to be cordial. At Christmas when we saw each other she told me it was because of my fat hips why most men are put off by me. She knew she was being a bitch.
“Congratulations to you both,” I say.
