Page 94 of Study Buddies

He got to his feet. “Well, I’m not exactly a happy camper myself this morning, but I can always eat. I’ll make extra in case you change your mind.”

“Thanks.”

I fished my phone out of the pocket of my sweatshirt, and Jayden was right—it was inside out. Why the hell did it have pockets on the inside, too?

He moved around the kitchen, but I tuned him out. My generation was known for spending far too much time on our phones, so if ever there was a moment to live up to the stereotype, it was now. I needed far less reality and far more videos of cute animals.

I checked my email and then scrolled through some clips. How many puppies and kittens would it take to make me forget yesterday?

Jayden set a glass of orange juice down in front of me, but the thought alone made my stomach hurt.

I was watching a video of a cute capybara taking a bath when I got a text. I ignored the preview because hello, capybaras. They’re freaking adorable. But maybe the text was from Lucas or Kyle? I guessed it was kind of messed up that I wanted to hear from each of them equally.

But it wasn’t from either of them. Nor Hailey.

It was from my mom.

And I had to read it three times before the words sank in.

I slumped in the chair, my head in my hands. I didn’t even realize I’d knocked over the orange juice until Jayden hurried over with a towel.

“Well, that’s one way to clean the table,” he said as he mopped it up. Then he stilled. “Tori, what is it?”

“It’s my mom.”

“What’s wrong?”

Ignoring the puddle of juice, he came over to my side and sat down next to me, putting his hand on mine.

“Is she hurt?”

I didn’t even know how to answer that. If she wasn’t now, she might be soon—emotionally, at least. But I shook my head.

“Then what is it? I’ve got to be honest, you’re scaring me. You came in here looking like death warmed over, and now you’re even paler.”

“My mom’s getting married.” My voice was barely audible.

Out of my peripheral vision, I saw his face change. His first instinct was probably along the lines of congratulations, but then he froze, likely remembering what I’d told him about Doug. How he and my mom had been on and off again for years. How horribly he treated her. How she was an entirely different person when she was with him.

“God, Tori. I’m sorry. I really am.”

“Me too.”

“Is it going to be this year or next? Maybe you can talk to her over Thanksgiving.”

I seized on his idea as if it were a lifeline. “Yes! That’s what I need, to speak with her face to face. If I can just tear off whatever blinders she has on and remind her of what he’s like, and what he does to her…” I straightened up, clutching Jayden’s arm. “That’s a great idea!”

He smiled at the hope on my face. “It’s a good plan. In the meantime, why don’t you take a few days to process, and then call her? Get a feel for how things are going between her and Doug this time.”

“There’s no time.” I got to my feet. “She’s marrying him tomorrow morning in a civil ceremony.”

“What?”

“It’s okay. If I leave now, I’ll get there long before Doug gets off work. I know I can talk her out of this insanity.”

In the back of my mind, it dawned on me that the last serious conversation I tried to have, the one last night with Lucas, hadn’t gone very well. Maybe it would have if I hadn’t brought up Natalie. I was still beating myself up over that. But this was mymom. I had to try. “I’ve got to go.”

“Wait. Just wait a minute.” Jayden stood and wrapped me in his arms. He stroked my hair and whispered, “Take a moment to breathe.“

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