Page 13 of Give My Everything
“Mom, I’m sorry, I—”
“Howdareyou runaway like that? I can’t imagine anything more rude than cutting someone off midsentence to dash out of the room,” she continues, completely ignoring anything I might have to say.
The event coordinator takes that moment to tiptoe away.
Lucky lady.
“Thankfully I was able to smooth things over with poor Bronson before he moved on to talk to that Callandra or whatever her name is. You know, Peter’s daughter.”
I dab my face again. “Mom, I’m sorry I ran off, but I’m not interested in Bronson and I don’t care if he talks to Callandra.”
“Is thatreallyher name? God, how ridiculous. It sounds like something you’d name your horse.”
“Mom!” I say, incredulous. “You named meRemington. I don’t think you get to be the judge of whether or not someone else was given a ridiculous name.”
She scoffs. “Remington is regal and comes from a long line of incredibly strong Wallace women. It was your grandmother’s middle name and her mother’s first name and…”
I roll my eyes.
Well,emotionallyroll my eyes, not physically. My body is feeling a bit too tired at the moment, having just heaved up the only thing I managed to consume today—half of a piece of banana nut bread and a glass of water.
So instead of actually rolling my eyes, I just stand there, allowing my mother to continue telling me why my name isn’t ridiculous.
When she pauses, I interject.
“Look, that’s great, really—but I’m not interested in being shown off tonight. Okay? I don’t feel very good, and these guys are just…” I trail off, not knowing how to explain to my mom that the last thing I need is someone like these men.
What I really need is a break.
“Really, Remington, don’t you want to date one of these incredibly fine young men? I mean, sure, Bronson might be a bit of a stretch. He’s only an inch taller than you, and that wouldn’t look very good in family pictures…”
I can’t help but let out a titter at that.
Everything is about appearances.
“…but surely someone else here would be a wonderful gentleman to take you out and get to know.”
“Who’s taking you out?”
The sound of the voice to my left has my entire body freezing up. When I finally manage to turn my head to see who has approached us, I wonder if I might have slipped on my way to the bathroom and bonked my head, because Ihaveto be hallucinating.
“Benjamin Calloway! How are you, sweetheart?” my mother enthuses, stepping toward Ben and kissing him on the cheek.
He gives her a smile.
“Wonderful to see you, Mariana,” he says, all smooth gracefulness and charm as he takes my mother’s hand between both of his. “I’m here representing the Calloway Corporation. I know we’re not currently on the board, but I’ve always told my father how important it is to show up in support of our old friends. Plus, you know I never miss an opportunity to break out my favorite suit.”
My mother blushes, clearly smitten.
“And what a fine suit it is,” she replies.
I take a brief moment to admire Ben as well. I might find him incredibly exasperating for showing up here tonight, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate how he looks in a suit that was custom tailored to fit his physique.
Ben Calloway isn’t a shabby man, that’s for damn sure.
I’m a tall girl. A lot of girls I knew growing up always used to say how lucky I was to be tall and have long legs, but it’s hard sometimes when you’re long and gangly and dating.
Lucas is only a few inches taller than me, though it wasn’t ever an issue unless I was trying to wear the five-inch Louboutins I bought for senior prom.
