Page 42 of In Love with the Devil

“Are you kidding? You spent the whole day with me.” I chuckle. “It’s fine. I’m fine. I swear.”

“Next Saturday? Brunch?”

I nod. “Absolutely.” We hug and I watch her until she gets into her car and slams the door.

Inside, I put my last frozen meal in the microwave while I arrange my first coffee table, lamp, loveseat and plant in the living room. The loveseat is wide enough to fit two cuddling people, and long enough to work as a bed for a sleepover. It’s nothing to most people, but a lot to me. My furniture, bought with my own money in a place I’m paying for without Mom or any other drama. I'm staring at the lampshade, lost in thought when the loud beep from the microwave startles me. I let out adeep breath and shake my head. When will that stop happening? I grab the used laptop I bought to replace the one he obviously hacked, and start watching a movie while eating lasagna.

Chapter fifteen

Difficult

Astoria

As the week advances, Romeo and I spend more time on the phone than what we should. We’re either texting or talking to each other until midnight. I realize that although I thought I was feeling relaxed, a part of me was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Julian is not going to show up out of the blue and kill me or Romeo. I managed to run away from him and start a new life. I guess my story is not that kind. Thank God. On Wednesday, right as I’m getting out of work and getting on the bus, my mom calls. I pick it up.

“Where have you been? You haven’t called me all week.”

I sigh, already detecting the poison and rage in her syllables. “Sorry, Mom. I’ve been working overtime, trying to save enough–”

“When are you visiting? I need someone to help me clean the garage.”

I sigh.“I don’t know when I’ll visit, Mom. Sorry.”

“Sorry. You’re always so sorry, but you never do better, Astoria. After all I did for you. Don’t you understand? I’m getting too old to do all this by myself. I can’t believe you’ve humiliated me by forcing me to spell it out for you.”

“Yes Mom, but I need to–”

“Ahh. Don’t even bother. You’re always full of excuses.”

“I sent you the money to pay for your credit card.”

“Are you throwing that in my face? Did I ever throw on your face how I paid for your college loans?”

“Mom. You didn’t pay for my college lo–”

“Whatever it was.”

“No, Mom. This is important. You didn’t pay for my college loans, you paid for my meal plan, and I already paid you back.”

“Wow. Okay, Astoria. Message received. What a noble daughter you are–”

“Mom, I was just letting you know I sent it, so you don’t have to worry about that. I’m not–”

Click.

My mouth drops open. She hung up on me. The expansion of emptiness hurts my chest. I finally take a breath and place my palm on my chest. “I’m not throwing anything in your face,” I finish saying into the phone.

“You okay?” asks the old lady next to me.

I nod, but there are tears spilling from my eyes. I wipe them away. “It’s always the same thing, but she’s never hung up on me before. I don’t know what to do anymore.”

“Relationships between moms and daughters are always difficult.”

“Yeah. I guess.” But Mindy’s Mom doesn’t treat her like someone who owes her everything. Mindy never sends her parents any money because they never ask for it.Ask for it.I titter at the words. She demands it. I’d give my whole paycheck just to have her hug me and tell me she loves me. My gaze falls to the floor.

As I walk home from the bus stop, I remind myself that tomorrow, Romeo and I get to go on our first date and that so far, he seems perfect. No one has ever made me laugh so much.

Chapter sixteen

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