Page 115 of Meet Cute Reboot
Her words deflate my muscles. My strength wanes, and I remember I barely slept last night. “Betsy doesn’t love me. She loves Joey.”
“I’m talking aboutCassie.”
I drop the sledgehammer and rest my forearm on the beat-up countertop. An ache takes over my body, every limb affected, my chest taking the brunt of it. A deep, gnawing pain. I drop my head to my forearm and shroud my vision in darkness. “I can’t lose her.” The words catch in my throat. I draw in a ragged breath and let it go in a slow exhalation.
My mom rests her hand on my back. “I know.”
“What do I do?”
She doesn’t answer right away, as stumped as I am, I guess. “You wait,” she says.
Ihavewaited. Foryears. “She’s not answering my texts.”
“How many times did you text her?”
“Once.”
Mom chuckles. “Give her time. You two have a lot of baggage to unpack.”
“We were unpacking it.”
“I saw that.”
I stand and lean against the island again, rubbing my face. It’s covered in dust. Eye protection would have been wise. “Macy showed up today. Kissed me. Cassie thinks I’m a cheater. I guessMacy thought we were still a thing. She and I were never right for each other. We were a mess.”
Mom leans against the island next to me and folds her arms. “But when she cheated on you, it taught you something.”
“Yeah. Never date another woman from L.A.”
“No. It showed you the harm you were causing other women when you cheated on them.”
I’ve already figured this life lesson out myself, but somehow, hearing it from my mom gives it more impact. You reap what you sow. What goes around comes around. Karma. They all apply. I just wonder how long it will be until I’ve officially paid my dues.
“It also made you want to change and chase after the woman you love,” Mom continues. “Your drunk self didn’t need to tell me you came here for Cassie. I already knew that was the reason.”
“And yet you still followed me.”
She rests her hand on my elbow and looks up at me. “I’ve always believed in you. I knew if you wanted Cassie, you’d find a way.”
“You make me sound manipulative.”
“You have been at times.”
I look down at my feet. “Maybe that’s another habit of mine that needs tossed into the ocean.”
“You can be determined without being manipulative. I think you’re starting to find the right balance.”
I rest my hand on Mom’s.
“Text her again. If she doesn’t respond, go after her.”
As if in response, my phone buzzes. My anticipation drops when I see it’s from Macy. “Great.”
Hey Luke. Thanks for the money. I’ll use it wisely. Gabe thanks you too. Say thanks to your mom for me too. Okay. That’s it. I’ll always love you a little bit. Bye.
I shoot Mom a confused look. “Macy says thank you.”
“Oh. I talked to her in the driveway. I heard you cursing from my living room, and I went out to see what was going on.”