Page 40 of The Boyfriend Boycott
Suddenly a few pieces clink together from the last few days, like chips falling into a game of Connect Four and lining up just right.
“Ah. So, this is the reason for the boob job.”
Marla nods.
“He told me he wanted a divorce a few weeks ago. I didn’t think he was serious. I thought he was saying it in the heat of an argument. So, I told him I was getting a boob job, thinking maybe it would convince him to stay. You know, that’s all men care about. But it didn’t work, and he said it was someto think that it would. I don’t even know what he means by that.”
“Have you ever thought, Mom, that you might have more to offer men than just your appearance?” I say tentatively, repeating the words that Grady had spoken to me. Something within them rang true, helped me see myself in a different light. The only light I had seen myself in prior to that was my mother’s.
“Don’t be naive, Spencer.” She scoffs. “Men only care about one thing. They’re all the same.” I glance over to the kitchen where Grady is bent down, his hand pressed gently against Ally’s belly, talking to his niece. A warm sensation ripples through me, and in that moment, I know that what my mother has told me my entire life is wrong.
“They aren’t. We just haven’t been choosing ones that care about more. I think that’s been intentional. It’s easier to let go when it ends. Pick a guy who is enough of an asshole and the breakup will never be your fault.”
“I just don’t have the energy to be dissecting this tonight.” She sighs. “I am exhausted from the drive, from all of it.”
“How long are you planning to stay in Heartwood?” I ask her. If she truly is here because of her divorce with Roy, this could be a long and very bumpy road.
“I don’t know yet. Long enough to feel okay going back to an empty house. Long enough for Roy to pack his shit and leave.” That’s not really an answer. That could be just the weekend, or it could be months.
“Where are you planning on staying?” I ask. She can’t stay with me, there isn’t enough room in the van, and I am sure as hell not allowing her to stay with Ally. She doesn’t have enoughroom here either, and with the baby coming so soon, Marla Sinclair invading her space is the last thing she needs.
“I guess I’ll just get a room at the motel. It looked decent. Have you stayed there? How many stars does it have?” she asks, and I’m not sure how to answer. The last time I planned on staying there, Grady took one look at the place and deemed it unfit even for me, and I’m used to sleeping in hostels.
“Uh … well it has five stars if you consider the fact that it’s currently the only place to stay in Heartwood,” I offer, trying to make it sound even slightly more appealing.
Grady, the eavesdropping little snoop, wanders over from the kitchen at this exact moment, and chimes in.
“She can stay in my guest suite,” he offers.
“No,” I snap a little too quickly, jumping to my feet. This is a slippery slope if I’ve ever seen one. A favour like this is … well it’s not exactly aligned with our rules. “I can’t have you put up my mom.”
“It’s no big deal, really. The suite has already been made up anyway,” he answers. Then adding, “And besides, it’s not the first time I’ve spared a beautiful Sinclair woman from the bed-bug-infested motel.” Grady winks at me, and my pulse zings.I quickly run through all the available options for my mother and come up short. She’ll complain about anything else to the point of being insufferable, so having her stay with Grady is the only way that I can hack having her here.
“Okay. Fine,” I give in. “But on one condition.”
Grady flashes me a playful grin and I think I can hear his thoughts.So many rules.
“I’ll park my van in your driveway and stay there, too. That way you don’t need to worry about hosting. I’ll take care of it all.”
“Deal,” Grady says. Out of my periphery, I can see Marla looking up at Grady and me, practically squaring off. She glances between us, realizing the decision has been made.
“Great. It’s settled.” She claps a hand on her knee and gets up from the couch to refill her wine glass.
Grady cocks an eyebrow towards me.
“I guess it’s settled,” he repeats, and I realize that this is the only condition left between us. Any of the rules we previously agreed upon have been broken. Just one night, no relationship-y things, don’t tell Ally. They’ve all been completely shattered. There is nothing left keeping me in check, and now I’ll be staying on Grady’s property, mere feet away from him.
“I thinkyour mom is all set up in there,” Grady says, approaching me across the driveway. “She seems to have made herself right at home.”
I look up at him standing over me, slightly out of breath from trying to crank down the jacks at the back of the van.I’ve parked it a safe fifty feet away from the house.
“Here, let me,” Grady offers, and I let him take over, wiping the back of my hand across my damp brow.
“Thanks.” The muscles in Grady’s thick arm flex as he cranks the jack down with ease, barely breaking a sweat. He stands and wipes his hands off on his jeans, regarding me for a moment.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay staying out here?” he asks. I see no alternative with all the rules broken now, I have to hold myself together. The council meeting is looming, and so is my upcoming departure from Heartwood. Now, with my mother showing up, I’m reminded of my commitment to my relationship ban and why it was important in the first place.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. I’m used to sleeping in the van on my own by now. Tonight is no different.” A brisk breeze blows between us, sending a chill through me.
