Page 15 of Unhinged

“I mean, put yourself out there. I’m not saying to be a ho-ho-ho, but if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it. You know what I mean?”

“No, and I’m not dating, so let’s leave that one alone.”

“But you’re alone. What happened to that guy with the pointy, crooked nose and lazy eye, who looked like The Penguin? Ralph?”

“It was Raphael, and he did not have a lazy eye or resemble a bird.”

“That’s not accurate in so many ways.”

“He moved to Atlanta. For now, I’m alone. Just like you. Right?” She crosses her arms and eyes me like a new patient. “Or are you seeing someone? You didn’t tell me if you were dating anyone in Richmond. Why don’t we talk about it?”

“How in the hell did you do that? It’s like some kind of witchcraft or voodoo.”

“Did you break up with a woman? Is that why you moved here in the middle of the night and haven’t talked about it since?”

“I had a midnight epiphany. Nothing to tell.”

“I doubt that. Mr. Vaughn said that you abruptly quit and didn’t say goodbye. Something’s not right. What are you hiding?”

“Why do you think I’m hiding anything? I’m an open book.”

“Of riddles, secret codes, and obscene language. I don’t think anyone knows the real you. Not even Eden.”

“Why would I have told that hag anything? She was dying for a reason to make fun of me.” Mom glowers at me for my word choice, and I shrug. Eden would’ve said worse about me.

“There is so much you’re not telling me. It’s written all over your face.”

“I’d only write it on my ass.”

“What’s the difference?” she shoots back.

I laugh. “Nicely done, Mom.” Backing out of the room and this conversation, I try for a getaway, but she follows, pointing her finger.

“What about Hadley?”

Catching a shaky breath, I look at the hallway table near the door, so she doesn’t see through me, as I struggle not to sound like a bumbling idiot. “What about her?”

“There was something obviously going on between you two when she was here for Eden.”

I frown at her but quickly look away again. “What? We couldn’t be friends without her petting my trouser snake?”

“I’m not saying that happened. I just thought there was something more than friendship.”

I roll my eyes. “No. She had a boyfriend. They got married and spawned a kid. Can I go now?”

“What did she say about you moving back here?”

“Why?”

She shrugs, but her eyes are on the prize. “It’s just a question.”

“A weird one.”

“You’re not answering me. Did you have a falling out with her?” You could say that. My vacant stare answers for me, and she instead asks, “What about other women? Did you date?”

“If I say I did, will you lay off?”

“Really? Anyone in particular?”

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