Page 62 of Mariposa
I was always making plans to spend time together, and he spent it on his phone each time we went on a date. In the beginning, it was great, but he changed over time when he went to college. Maybe I wasn’t as in love with him as I thought I was. Perhaps I was comfortable because he was there for me when I didn’t have anyone else.
“Things were rocky before I left. Going away has given me plenty of time to set my expectations and boundaries that I deserve. You were always apologizing, and I was alwaysforgiving. We’d been growing apart for a while, isn’t that what you said?” I snap.
Penny claps her hands when she enters. Her smile tells me she’s utterly unaware of what we’re discussing.
“Shall we get started? We’ll eat cake and decorate the Christmas tree!” Her bright smile reaches her brown eyes as she pulls out three plates from a cabinet.
Adams sips his drink angrily.
I’ll stay for one hour and then leave.
Being around Adam and Penny, I feel like I’ve betrayed them. They can’t find out what Kade and I shared. They wouldn’t understand. At the end of the day, they’re his family, and I’m an outsider. Adam already resents Kade. What will happen when he finds out we’ve crossed a line?
23
VIOLET
The doorbell chimes over “Winter Wonderland by Doris Day.” We all turn toward the door midway through decorating the Christmas tree. We only have a few ornaments left, and the tree skirt still needs to be placed underneath. Something Adam and his mother can do. It’s been two hours of pretending Adam and I are still together.
“You two lovebirds stay put.” Penny grins, ruffling Adam’s ear.
Adam is overdoing his acting skills by stealing hugs and kisses on my cheek. Every time he does that, I force a smile.
The doorbell rings again.
“I’ll get that!” Adam’s mother bolts up from the floor and onto her two feet.
“So…” Adam starts as he hands me another ornament.
“When will you tell your mother that we broke up?” My glare latches onto his reddened, glossy eyes.
“When I want to.”
Wait a second.
“Are you high?” I glower.
Adam’s eyes grow wide, but then he nods unbothered.
I shake my head as I learn something new about my ex.
“Tell your mother.”
“No,” he snorts.
“Adam. We’re done. You ended our relationship, remember? You can’t be with someone in the military?” I recite his own words back to him. I hook the silver ball on a branch and watch his face contort in the reflection.
“No, I can’t, but it doesn’t mean I don’t want you.” He twirls my hair with his fingers. I smack them away.
“Adam, you don’t get to come back into my life whenever you feel like it,” I hiss low, trying hard not to attract his mother’s attention.
He opens his mouth, and his chin points like he’s ready to shout at me.
“Oh, I shouldn’t stay, Penny.”
My heart does that weird thing again and dashes hard until I feel it pulse at the base of my neck. It’s ping-ponging in my rib cage.
That voice.
