Page 100 of That First Night
“Don’t play coy,” she chuckles. “I saw the way he was looking at you a few moments ago.”
I remain silent, unsure of what to say.
“You don’t have to tell me.” She waves me off. “I already know the answer because there was once a time, he looked at me the same way.”
My mouth parts the slightest bit as I continue to stare at this woman. Who is she? Did she used to date Thomas? He said he’s never been in a relationship before.
My thoughts are interrupted when the buzz of my phone vibrates in my purse again. Pulling it out, I see another unknown caller flash across the screen, and I silence it again before stuffing it back into my purse.
“Boyfriend calling?” She smirks.
This bitch. Who does she think she is? And where the fuck is Avery when I need her messy self to come pull me out of this?
“Actually,” I say as I straighten my spine and take my almost empty glass in my hand. “My boyfriend is over there.” I turn and point to where Thomas is standing and notice he’s not looking in my direction anymore. “And you’re right. I just so happen to be fuckinganddating him.”
“That’s impossible,” she shoots me a sinister laugh. “Tommy doesn’t do relationships.”
“People change,” I mutter before taking a sip of my drink.
“Tommy doesn’t,” she scoffs.
“Who are you?” I finally ask, turning my body to face.
“I’m Sheila.” She smirks. “James’ mom.”
This is the moment all the color drains from my face and my jaw hits the floor. My heart is beating rapidly behind my ribcage, and I can’t help but feel so small compared to her. My feet are telling me to run and get out of here, but my mind is telling me to stay.
This. Is. James’. Mom.
“Cat got your tongue?” The grin on her face is as ugly as her attitude.
I feel rage creeping up on me. Not only is this James’ mom, but this is the woman that abandoned her child. For what? To pursue her career? How could she do that to the greatest little boy I have ever met.
“Where have you been,Sheila?” My tone is harsh and protective of both Thomas and James. Her name slips off my tongue as if it’s laced with acid.
“Oh sweetie,” she says in a condescending tone. “You act like you know it all. You think you can jump in and play mommy dearest?”
“No,” I snap back. “But at least James has someone there for him.” I stand from my seat as anger courses through my veins. “Where were you when he was sick? Where were you when I held him in my arms while he cried for his mom? You weren’t there. That's for damn sure.”
“I have a life.” She stands up to meet my stance. “I have a career to pursue, and James didn’t fit the bill.” She shrugs her shoulders.She. Shrugs. Her. Fucking. Shoulders.As if leaving your child is no big deal.
“You don’t deserve him,” I say, my voice growing louder. “You don’t deserve either of them. I have never met anyone more selfish in my entire life and I have only known you for a couple of minutes. You do know that's not how being a parent works, right?” I pause and she just sits there with that ugly smirk on her face. “When you become a parent, you put your children before your own selfish needs. Then, you figure out a way to make it work and pursue your goals. You could have had it all, Sheila.” I feel tears prickle behind my eyes. “Those two deserve the fucking world.”
“You think you can give that to them? You don’t even belong here. This isn’t your crowd, and these aren’t your people. I could tell that before I even sat here next to you,” she scoffs.
“If it makes me anything like you, then I’llfucking pass.”
I begin to walk away, and my blood is boiling. I swear you can see smoke coming off the top of my head if you looked close enough.
“He’s never going to love you,” she says to my back. My steps falter as I stand there and slowly turn to face her again. “He doesn’t know how to love, and he will never love you.”
“What makes you believe that?”
“He never loved me.” Her smile falters. “He never once showed me or told me, at least. He will always be hung up on a girl he met before me. She was the ‘one that got away,’” she says with air quotes and an eye roll. “No one in his life will ever measure up to that woman. Not even you.”
I swallow the lump in my throat and realization hits me like a ton of bricks. The girl before her, the one that got away, the one no one will ever measure up to…
Is it me?
