Page 4 of The Breaking Pointe
on him.
“You have any updates on school?” I ask him. “Mom tells me you applied for New York University.”
“Yeah. Waiting for them to say something,” he says, still not amused with me one bit. He picks at his food as the table becomes quiet for another few seconds while we all continue to eat. My mom then steps in.
“That’s okay, honey.They’ll respond when you least expect it. Right, Colton?” She eyeballs me.
Nodding, with my mouth full, I cosign her suggestion. “Yeah. Ma’s right.”
“Colton, I’ve been meaning to ask—are you seeing anyone new?” she asks softly, changing the subject.
I shake my head.“You ask me every time you see me.I told you last week, and the answer remains the same: there’s no woman in my life right now.” I chuckle softly, finding the topic comedic.
She smiles.“I’m sorry, I just don’t understand.You’re the whole package, Colton,” she gushes as her softened voice turns into a giggle.
Shrugging lightly, I begin to finish my plate.“Because I’m not looking. My day will come when the time is right,” I say, sort of joking, but actually, there wasn’t anything to joke about. I do want companionship.
She lets out a small titter in response.
When we finished eating, I had dish duty so I was tending to that in the kitchen.Steven ended up going to take a shower and my mom was collecting the rest of the dishes in the dining room.She comes in, setting a small pile beside the sink on the counter. “Okay, that’s all of them. Thank you so muchfordoingthis,youknowyoudon’thaveto,sweetie,”
she says, giving me a small pat on my back as she stands beside me.
I look down at her and smile. “Sure, no problem. I don’t mind at all.After all, you cook for me.”I chuckle softly.
Her gaze becomes acute as she looks at me.I try not to make eye contact now.
“Yes?”Iask,makinghersnapherheadaway.
“Nothing, nothing.I just wonder how you’re doing.I worry about you living alone at times. I don’t want you to be lonely, Colton. I just wish you would settle down soon,” she says, sincerely.
I pause my actions and look at her again.
“Mom, you really need to chill.I have Bonnie, and even Trey. I don’t need to get saddled in some relationship just for the hell of it.”I shake my head, assuring her as I give her a gentle forehead kiss.
Her face lights up as she gives me a side hug.
“I love you, Cole. Let me worry. Soon enough, I won’t have any more babies to do that for,” she says softly.
I purse my lips into a weak smile.
“You should let me clean your face,” she mumbles, begin- ning to poke at a cut on my cheekbone.
My smile lingers, rinsing another dish off as I speak.“You don’t think I cleaned them?”
She rubs my back before walking over to a cabinet, opening it and retrieving a few packets of green tea.
“I’m sure that you do.They look painful, is all,” she responds, grabbing a big mug and walking back over to me, slipping it under the running water.
I nod slowly. “Well sometimes it is. Right now, though? Not so much. Promise.”
She kisses my bare arm and walks over to the microwave. “I’m going to make this tea and then lay down. I’m feeling somewhat fatigued,” she exhales, putting the mug inside of the microwave.
“Why don’t you go lay down, and I’ll bring it to you— yeah?” I offer, turning the faucet off then wiping my hands on a nearby towel.
“No, it’s—”
“Yes,”Ifinishhersentence.
