Page 30 of Heart of Stone

“Mom, we’ve been through this a thousand times. I like living in New York.”

“I know, but –.”

“I have to go, mom. I really need to concentrate on finding a job.”

I found that sometimes it was better to just talk over her. She never listened otherwise and I wasn’t in the mood for a lecture.

“If you would only –.”

“I’m hanging up now, Mom,” I told her, my impatience coming out loud and clear.

“Okay, fine. I get it. You don’t want to talk about it. I’ll stop. That’s not why I called anyhow. The reason I called was to tell you that Frank and I are coming to New York in a few weeks. I’m long overdue for a visit and I want to get a jump start on my holiday shopping.”

I groaned inwardly. As nice as it would be to see them, a visit from my mother and stepfather took a lot of energy – energy that I wasn’t really feeling at the moment.

“Sounds good. I’ll look forward to it,” I lied.

“Alright, honey. I’ll let you know which weekend we are coming once we finalize our plans. Good luck job hunting! Love you!”

“Love you too, Mom. Bye.”

I hit the end button on the touchscreen. Rage returned with a vengeance as I stared down at Alexander Stone’s gift, if one would even call it that.

It’s more like a hostile takeover of my personal means of communication!

On impulse, I decided to send him a text, my fingers typing feverishly in anger.

Today

10:32 AM, Me:Who do you think you are?

The seconds ticked by, my fingernails clicking impatiently on the kitchen counter, as I waited for his response. After a few minutes, I was ready to ditch the phone in the trash, but then it chimed with a notification of a new message.

10:38 AM, Alexander:Good. You received the phone.

I could almost see his smug expression as I read his response. That fueled my fury even more. I responded back in such a rush, that I misspelled everything.

If the prick could take the time to have all of my contacts reprogrammed, he should have at least turned on the auto spelling correct!

I started over, this time typing more slowly.

10:41 AM, Me:Yes, I received it – and you can take it right back too!

10:42 AM, Alexander:It’s yours. Keep it.

Ugh! Is he really that dense!

He was starting to push me over the edge. I wanted no ties to Alexander whatsoever and I had no intention of keeping the stupid cell phone, as it would only be a constant reminder of him.

10:44 AM, Me:I don’t want it.

10:45 AM, Alexander:You could always go back to your broken one.

10:45 AM, Me:You deactivated it!

10:47 AM, Alexander:And your point is?

10:48 AM, Me:Normal people don’t DO things like that!

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