Page 68 of Only for the Week
“I really don’t want to, Mom. You’ve had a lifetime to sit and talk to me. I appreciate you finally telling me the truth, but I’ve heard enough.”
“What does that even mean?” Her voice comes out in a shrill way. “I’m still your mother and we still have the wedding to go to.”
“That’s what everything comes back around to. What Amerie needs.”
“It’s not that. She’s just always needed me more than you did.”
“Therefore making her more valuable as a daughter, right? You know what’s worse? I’m no better. I coddle Ri just as much as you because that’s all I’ve ever known. I always put her feelings before my own, because that’s all I ever saw from you growing up.”
She has no argument because she knows it’s true. Rome was right about needing to be willing to put myself first. I don’t want to make any big decisions about my relationship with my mom while on a beach in Mexico but for once, I’m not going to force myself to be on someone else’s timeline. “When I’m ready to talk again, I’ll let you know,” I say, standing from the table.
“Janelle…”
“Please, just listen to me for once.”
She tearfully nods and leans her head against my dad’s shoulder. I stand from the table, bending to kiss my dad on his bald head and then I walk out with my head held high.
As I’m walking back to my room, I check my phone and see a message from Rome.
Rome: Let me know how it goes
I told him I was going to be confronting my mom today and he offered to come along but I wanted to do it alone, so I promised to fill him in later.
Me: It’s over—Not sure if I’m still gonna have a relationship with my mom when I get home but I said what I needed to say
Rome: It’s over already? Did you even eat?
Me: No. Lost my appetite after that
Rome: I’m sorry. Need me to come over?
Me: Nope I’m taking a long bath and I’m sleeping til it’s time to go out tonight. Thank you though *kissy emoji*
Rome: Sleep well, J
I plan to. Tonight we are having the bachelor and bachelorette parties for Arnold and Ri. The men are going to a nighttime pool bar and hookah lounge and the women are going to a dance club. I need to get all the rest I can get to be prepared to socialize tonight. By the time I see Ri tonight I’m sure our mom will have told her about our conversation so she may be expecting me to confront her as well. It’s well past time we had a talk but because old habits die hard I’m willing to grin and bear it until the wedding is over.
Twenty minutes later, there’s a knock at my door. I open it to find Javier and another concierge who push two carts into my room. The first cart is packed with lunch consisting of tostadas and elote; different desserts including sopaipillas, tres leches, and chocolate-covered strawberries; a bottle of white wine on ice; and a glass of Mezcalita. The second cart is filled with self-care essentials from bath bombs and salts to body creams, massage oils, a candle, and a sleep mask.
Javier hands me a note to accompany the goodies, giving me a knowing smile. He protests when I give him a tip because whoever had the items sent already tipped him, but I insist.
I’m proud of you. -RM
My teeth sink into my bottom lip as I look over all the things he sent for me. How is it that I’ve owned bras for longer than I’ve known this man but he’s so in tune with exactly what I need? And to think, I almost let him slip through my fingers. I won’t do that again.
I pull out my phone and snap a picture of myself with one of the tostadas raised to my lips, the food cart in front of me. I send it to Rome with a message.
Me: You wanna be a book boyfriend so bad
Rome: I wanna be a two-dimensional man who doesn’t even exist? Pass
Me: See all that hater energy? A book boyfriend would never
Rome: Put my girlfriend on the phone she talks to me nice
Me: Me: *eye roll emoji* She’s busy
Rome: *eye emoji* Without me!? *insert Soulja Boy meme*
