Page 12 (2/2)

You’re lying

Don’t be a baby

The fae side of sarcasers a whole two seconds before returning to her salad

“I haven’t dated since high school Do you kno many years that’s been?”

“Twenty since you graduated Twenty-four since you started high school I’ before stabbing a grape tomato

“It’s all online dating now No one gets fixed up I don’t think I’m not really sure” I rub the tension from the back of my neck

“You’re a ure it out” She blots her red lips with a napkin

“I’ forward, I resth escapes h h

She fights her grin “You look like the little dirty-blond-haired boy that your grando to have lunch with me That baby face and cute nose” The tip of her fork bops rown up A tall, handsome doctor who needs to shave randma was here to see you now She’d be so proud”

After a few seconds, I frown, scratching ht after thisher, but I think I hate her more now than I did then”

“Grandma? That’s not very nice … she was a bit stubborn, and she liked to swat your ornery little ass sometimes, but—”

“Julie” I roll my eyes

Mom smirks It quickly settles into a sad smile “Why? What purpose does it serve to hold on to that hatred?”

My shoulders lift toward iven the way I’ve carried the weight of the world for so long “I’m not sure it will ever make sense to me We waited until our mid-thirties to start a family Roman wasn’t an accident We planned for him We planned every part of our lives to fit around hieries because she wanted to be home more with him I turned down a promotion because the added hours would have taken away froo fro a part-time parent? What is that? Who does that? Who just walks away because they’re…” I shake my head “…ere her words? Not that woman anymore?”

Mo the lid to her salad “I saw Julie with Ro flowers for her mom’s birthday Julie has a tattoo on her ankle, a lotus When I complimented her on it, she showed me Roman’s name tattooed at the nape of her neck with a heart next to it Did you know about the tattoos? Or that she’s a redhead now instead of a blonde?”

“Yes I know My sophisticated wife—ex-ho obsessively ironed our clothes and wore her hair in the sah school, has wavy, red hair, tattoos, and the wardrobe of a teenager”

And boobs I don’t say it aloud and neither does o, and she likes to show them to the world Turtlenecks … she wore turtlenecks with me

“Rhonda’s daughter recently turned twenty-four She’s an architect who just got out of a lesbian relationship because she’s questioning her sexuality again She’s had some health issues that have played havoc on her hor better, and Rhonda thinks she’s ready to try dating irl you could ever meet” Mom takes out a compact, checks her teeth for lettuce, pops a mint into her mouth, and applies a soft pink shade of lipstick