Page 76 of Sour Lollipops and Sweet Nightmares
“Alright.” Mom sighed. “But I’d feel better if you had a car.”
So would I. “Give the insurance company some time. It’s only been a week.”
That is, if they even paid out. The mysterious engine fire that totaled my car was under investigation. And insurance company investigations were never quick. Therefore, I would be without a vehicle for some time.
“Look, I know you said no, but…”
“You are not buying me a car.” She worked too hard at a thankless job for her money. I was not going to dip into the small nest egg she managed to save for herself. “I’m perfectly capable of taking the bus if I need to go somewhere.”
“You need something, Gigi,” she argued. “What if you get lonely and want to come home for the weekend?”
That was Mom code for I miss you. She wanted me to come for the weekend.
“I worry about you up there all alone.”
Not this again. “I’m not alone, Mom. I have a friend.”
“You made a friend? Honey, that’s fantastic,” she exclaimed as if it were the greatest thing in the world.
I rolled my eyes. Did she have to sound so happy about it? I guess I should’ve seen that coming.
“Yes, Mom,” I sighed. “I have a friend. Her name is Rachel, and she’s very annoying. You would like her.”
She really would. Rachel and my mother had similar personalities. They were both happy extroverts who put way too much thought into their appearance. Although I did see a different side of Rachel today.
She was mad at me, and not because of her dislike for anyone. It was something else. The way she looked at Ravi was closer to panic than fear, as if she were more afraid of what he could do than she was of him.
“Gigi, you have no idea how many times I prayed for this.”
“God had nothing to do with it, Mother, trust me.”
There was no divine being answering the prayers of the righteous. And if there was, he sure as hell wasn’t who sent Rachel my way. However, I was starting to wonder who had sent her my way. Her story about ‘checking on me’ wasn’t so believable anymore. I might just be being paranoid, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.
“Be as cynical as you want, Gigi, but I will never stop praying for you.”
Okay, but could she stop calling me Gigi? I hated that nickname, and she was the only one who called me that.
“The good Lord will watch over you whether you believe he’s there or not.”
“Uh-huh.” I was not getting into the religion versus logic debate with her again. “You can keep your good Lord mother. I don’t need another stalker.”
“What do you mean, another stalker?”
I froze.Shit.
“I just mean that I have enough attention, what with Kash and Issac. I don’t need another man watching over me.” Awkwardness wasn’t my only problem. I also overexplained things when I got nervous.
“Who are Kash and Issac?”
Well, there was only one thing to do now.
“It was great talking to you, Mom, but I have an early class tomorrow and it’s already… seven o’clock,” I said while looking down at my watch.
“Wait, Gigi…”
“Sorry, Mom. Gotta go. Gotta get that sleep in,” I sang into the phone and hung up before she could ask me anything.
After which I let out a breath. That was close. I knew she wouldn’t let it go, but that was a problem for another day. Right now, I just wanted to put this horrible day behind me, and that was precisely what I decided to do.
