Page 55 of Overachiever
“What’s the problem?”
Me. I’m the problem. “I’m afraid of making a mistake that’ll ruin the rest of my life.”
Rachel sits back and regards me. “Like I did?”
After a deep breath, I nod. “I did think that, and I can’t say how happy I am it isn’t true. You lost everyone when you got pregnant, and I lost you. All I had left was Mom, but I knew one wrong step would leave me alone too.”
“To anxiety bred abandonment issues,” Rachel says, tapping her glass of wine on mine. “We reacted differently to the extremes we were raised in. You always tried to be good enough, and I thought I’d never be, so I rebelled. They messed us both up in different ways, but we’re adults now. Old enough to recognize the truth. The whole world doesn’t turn against you because you made a mistake. Controlling narcissists do. Having Colby put a lot of things in perspective for me, because I’ll tell you, that boy could come home carrying a human head, and I’d know I had a body to bury while I swear my baby wouldn’t do that.”
“I’ve known him a few hours and I’d help you,” I laugh. The light starts to fade from the sky, streaking it with pink and lavender while I struggle with the myriad of thoughts in my head. It feels good to talk to Rachel like this, like we did as little kids. She’s grown up so much, and the life experience she’s gained has matured her.
“I’ve always had a plan and falling in love isn’t part of it, at least not yet. Not until I’m set in my career.”
“What you do for a living or how you live shouldn’t matter one bit to someone who loves you. Success isn’t some toll you pay on the way to happiness. You don’t have to earn the privilege of being loved.” Her words are still sinking in when she asks, “The guy…”
“Owen.”
“Owen. Would you feel the same about him if he dropped out of college and decided to take a low paying job that makes him happy?”
Owen’s goofy smile flashes in my head, and I’m surprised at my answer. “Yes.”
Rachel gives a shrug and a smile. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t care about your career and future. You’re smart as hell and you’ve always worked hard. You deserve to have the life you want. I’m just saying everything isn’t as dire as we were brought up to believe. You can relax a little and have a life outside of work.”
Maybe she’s right. I’ve always been accused of being stubborn once I make my mind up about something, and I haven’t let myself even entertain the idea of being with Owen. My brain screamed “not in the plan!”and I’ve done everything I can to accept that. I’ve fought off the intruding thoughts ofbut what ifover and over again. Mentally slapped my hand for thinking about it.
“Do you have a picture of him?” Rachel asks, and I swipe through my phone until I find the one of both of us on our first day at the job site. Was that only a couple of months ago? It feels like so much has changed since then. Rachel smiles at the picture of us wearing hard hats and grinning at the camera. “Well, that’s adorable. He’s hot.”
“Yeah, he is,” I agree.
My phone buzzes in my hand, and Mom’s name pops up. Rachel shakes her head. “Don’t tell her you’re at my place. I’m not talking to her.”
Nodding, I accept the call.
“Remee!” she snaps with no kind of hello. “Do you want to tell me why I had some boy at my door looking for you?”
“I—what? Who?”
“I thought you said you weren’t seeing anyone! Is that why you came into town to hook up with some pickup driving, goofy kid? I thought you had a better head on your shoulders. You know what can happen.”
It can’t be. He would’ve only gotten home from Florida yesterday, and I haven’t had a text or call from him. “Mom, who was it?”
“He said his name was Owen, and he is right this minute parked down the street waiting for you to come back even though I told him to leave.”
Oh my god. “I’ll take care of it.”
“I can’t believe you—” For the first time in my life, I hang up on my mother. I’m not going to listen to her tear into me over something that isn’t any of her business.
With my heart trying to burst through my chest, I turn to Rachel. “He’s here! Owen! He showed up at Mom’s looking for me!”
“I like him already. Well,” Rachel gets to her feet. “Get off your ass and go find him.”
Chapter Nineteen
Owen
Remee’s mother is not nice. That’s putting it mildly. Who knows what her problem is, but she isn’t going to help me get in touch with her. I could call, but that gives her the opportunity to say no, and I really want to talk to her in person. From where I’m parked, I’ll be able to see her if she comes back to her mother’s, but I can’t just sit here like a stalker all day. Well, I can, but there’s no guarantee she’s coming back here.
My phone lights up with a text from Remee.
