Page 43 of Loathe at First Sight

“I agree with you…until the part where it questions where you went after you left Florida. It suggests that maybe you’re hooked on drugs and in rehab. Or maybe you and Staci had a big blow-up. She made an accusation that you two had a big fight, and things got physical.”

I can’t help but roll my eyes. The tabloids were always in my business, printing stories without any regard for whether or not they were actually true. I was always just able to shrug them off because I knew they weren’t. Even though my mom knows the same, she has a hard time letting it go.

“Just try to ignore it,” I plead. “It will eventually stop. The world will eventually forget me, and they’ll move on to something else to talk about.”

I say the words, and I pray they are true. But it’s already been a couple of years, and they still feel the need to talk shit.

Now, it’s my turn to change the subject. I start asking about some of her friends and what she’s been doing around town. It seems to cheer her up some.

My phone vibrates with a text, but I choose not to look at it while I’m on the phone. I already feel bad that I don’t see my mom as often as I should, so I’ll try to talk to her whenever I can without rushing it. I don’t care what I’m doing. Everything else can wait.

The woman gave up her life to raise me and let me follow my dreams. I think the least I can do is give her some uninterrupted phone time.

When we finally do hang up the phone, I pull up the text. It’s from Jana.

Jana: Hey, I have a huge favor to ask.

Instead of texting, I decide to just give her a call.

When she answers, I ask, “What’s going on, Jana?”

I figure it’s probably about her car. That’s what most people in this town call me for.

“Well, Jack, I’m in a little bit of a pickle.” She takes a deep breath. “Tomorrow, before school, Tali has a breakfast with parents thing. I told her I would go, but my dumb self scheduled an order of 500 cupcakes to be done by noon. I just can’t swing both. I told her I couldn’t make it, and she asked if maybe you could go with her. It shouldn’t take long. Maybe like twenty minutes to half an hour. If you can’t do it, it’s fine, but I thought I’d ask—”

I cut her off. “Of course, I can take her.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to put you out. And I know it’s weird because you aren’t her parent.”

“Jana, really, it’s okay. I don’t mind. When do I need to be there?”

She gives me the time and a couple of other details that I need to know before we hang up the phone.

When I get back to washing my dishes in the now-cool water, it occurs to me that this Tali thing is going to make me late for my typical morning jog. I could just skip it altogether, but it’s so much a part of my routine now that I know it’ll mess my whole day up if I skip it.

It has nothing to do with the fact that I’ve gotten used to my little races with Liz every morning.

Okay, maybe it has a little to do with that.

As much as we can’t stand each other, our time on the trails is half decent. Her need to always turn it into a race not only makes it more fun for our rivalry, but it gives me a better workout.

Based on the time that Jana gave me, I should be able to squeeze both in. I will just have to be late for the run. Maybe if I get there in enough time, we can do a quick couple of laps before I have to get ready for work.

I don’t quite know how I went from not wanting a single thing to do with this woman to looking forward to running with her in the mornings, but here we are. I think it’s just refreshing to find someone who enjoys a good morning run as much as I do. And the fact that we have a crazy desire to leave the other in our dust makes it more fun than running alone.

When I call her princess in the middle of it, it pisses her off, and she kicks it into overdrive. Then, I get to push myself to try to catch up.

And I get to stare at her ass as she pulls ahead.

It’s a win-win.

So, it’s settled. I’ll pick Tali up and head to school with her before my morning run, and then, I’ll attempt to make it there in time.

I’m sure Liz will be fine without me for a little while.

fifteen

Just my Luck

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