Page 113 of Holding On

"Doesn't look like nothing." She sits across from me. "It looks like you were expecting a call from someone. Maybe your boyfriend?" She smiles.

"He's not calling. If he was going to, he would've by now."

There must've been annoyance in my tone because she frowns and asks, "Are you two fighting?"

"Not really."

"Which means what?"

"It means I went over there before work to surprise him and he told me to go away."

"Are you kidding? He seriously told you to go away?"

"He didn't use those exact words. He said he wasn't feeling up for company."

"Maybe he wasn't. Maybe he was tired. I wouldn't take it personally."

"How can I not? Even if he's tired, he should still want to see his girlfriend. He didn't even kiss me."

"Didn't you say he was moody?"

"Yes. And he said he was in a bad mood, but he wouldn't tell me why."

"Becca." She reaches over and puts her hand on my arm. "I know you're upset, but I wouldn't take it personally. It sounds like Ethan just needs some time alone. Most guys don't like to talk about stuff, and when they do, you have to let them do it on their own time. You can't push them or they run the other way. So just let him be. Whatever's bothering Ethan, he'll either eventually tell you, or he'll work it out himself."

"I just want to help him. I don't know why he won't let me."

She sighs. "That's just how guys are. I gave up trying to understand them and so should you. And guys should stop trying to understand women. We're far too complicated for their simple minds to figure out."

I laugh. "You're right."

She stands up. "Let's get back to work so we can get out of here. I'm exhausted. I can't wait to get home, take a hot shower, and crawl into bed."

I'll be doing the same thing except I was hoping I'd be sharing a bed with Ethan. But given how he's acting, that won't be happening.

When I get home later that night, Mike is waiting up, like he always does.

"Hey," I say as I pass by him on the way to my room. I'm so tired, I just want to collapse into bed.

"Mom stopped by."

I stop and look at him. "She actually came back here?"

After brunch last Sunday, Mom tried calling both Mike and me but we didn't answer and she didn't try calling back. I assumed she'd wait a few months, then call again, acting as if nothing had happened. She does that all the time. She hates conflict and runs whenever we have a fight.

"She didn't stay long," he says.

"What did she want?"

"To give us this." He picks up a piece of paper and holds it out to me.

I take it and see it's a check for two thousand dollars.

"Two thousand?" I roll my eyes. "A little late. Could've used this a few years ago. And why only two? That wouldn't even cover a month of tuition for her future stepsons. But I guess this is all we're worth to her."

He takes the check from me and tosses it on the coffee table. "Maybe we just don't cash it. I don't want her thinking she can pay for our forgiveness. What she did is wrong and she needs to know that."

"She's done plenty of wrong things in the past and you got over it, so why is this bothering you so much?"

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