Page 43 of Study Buddies

He laughed, but his cheeks reddened slightly. “Okay, guilty as charged. I do like your hair. But that’s not the only thing.”

Since he didn’t elaborate, I didn’t really have anything to blush about—but I suspected I did it anyway. Truthfully, I liked his hair, too. It had some height to it, and he kept his short beard nicely trimmed. I’d never been a huge fan of beards, but his gave definition to his face. All in all, he managed to look well-put together and casual at the same time.

“So, your mom?” he prompted.

I didn’t want to answer because it wasn’t my favorite subject, but on the other hand, I liked getting closer to Jayden. Not just physically, as we had in the hammock, either. Last year, he’d been just a guy I studied with twice a week. This year, he was becoming a whole lot more. “We used to be close.”

Jayden listened intently, but I could tell he knew this was painful for me. “She was a single mother?”

“Yeah. When she got pregnant and the, um, biological father didn’t want anything to do with me.”

“He didn’t want the responsibility that comes with having a baby,” Jayden corrected. “He didn’t even get a chance to know you, which is definitely his loss.”

“Yeah. I mean, thanks. That’s how I see it, too, though sometimes I get curious about him. But that’s not the upsetting part of the story.”

“What is?”

I sighed. “When I was in middle school, my mom met someone. Doug. He was really sweet to her at first, and me, I guess, but then things got bad pretty quickly. He moved in, and everything changed. He was really controlling, and it was like mymom became a different person. She did everything he told her to. It was like she changed her entire personality for him.”

There was sympathy in Jayden’s eyes. “Was he abusive?”

“To her, yes. At least in my opinion. As for me, well, I mostly tried to stay out of his way. He saw me as competition for my mom’s attention. And he was a competitive guy.” I stopped and then corrected myself. “Heisa competitive guy.”

Jayden slid his fingers around mine, squeezing. Warmth spread through my chest at the simple gesture. During our walk around campus, I’d wanted to hold his hand. But this was different. This time, I needed to.

“So he’s still in the picture?”

“Off and on. Over the years, they’ve broken up and gotten back together at least half a dozen times. Every time I think that my mom’s done with him, that she’s seen the light, then six months later they’re back together.” I blinked rapidly, not wanting to tear up.

“I’m sorry, Tori. Are they together now?”

I shook my head rather hopelessly. “I don’t know. They broke up over the summer, but when I talk to her on the phone… I get the feeling that they might be back together.” A bitter laugh escaped me. “Isn’t it pathetic that I live halfway across the state, and I can still read the signs?”

His hand was warm and steady on my own. “I would imagine that you have to learn to be observant and to quickly size up a situation when you live in a home like that.”

“Then why didn’t I see Todd for what he was sooner?” As soon as I blurted that out, I realized it had been hovering in the back of my mind for a while now.

There was nothing but sympathy in Jayden’s gaze. “You thought he was a friend, and it turned out he wasn’t. I’m sorry that happened, but it doesn’t mean you’re like your mom, Tori. Unless you’re going to go running back to Todd?”

“God, no.”

“Exactly. You trusted someone, and he didn’t live up to that trust. That speaks to what kind of person he is, not you.”

I wanted to believe his kind words, but it was hard to let myself off the hook. I still felt that I should’ve figured out that Todd wasn’t my friend sooner than I had.

“Things are headed in the right direction for you. You’re well on your way to becoming a teacher. You have a place to stay. And you have an amazingly charming roommate,” Jayden added.

“Just one?” He’d made me smile, and I was grateful for that.

“Yes. One amazingly charming roommate, and two moderately charming ones. When they aren’t at each other’s throats.”

I laughed. “I agree with your assessment.”

“Good.” He downed the last of his drink and set the bottle down on the tray. “Come on, I want you to meet Mia.”

“She’s here?”

“Yeah, her shift started a few minutes ago, but I didn’t want to interrupt you while you were talking about your mom.”

---