Page 74 of Freshmeet
Wow. An apology.
I gently smiled at her. “I was thinking about running Connor some lunch. I can swing by The Depot and check for you.”
Kat deflated. “Yeah, that would be great. I’m fucking exhausted.”
I glanced at the time on the microwave and grabbed my keys off the counter. “I don’t know how you’re still awake.”
“Coffee and spite.”
“That‘ll do it.”
FIFTEEN
YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW INTO YOU I AM
CONNOR
“I wish you were rushing.”
Looking down at my watch, I had thirty minutes to grab lunch, eat, and get back to the site. Too bad I hadn’t even made it out of the parking lot. “It’s not my thing. I’ll leave the frat life to Jamie.”
Mom sighed. “That’s what I’m afraid of. I’d be less worried if you were there to keep an eye on him. Imagine if you hadn’t been there last night.”
“I didn’t do anything.” I leaned against my car and stared at the yellow police tape across the road.
“You called your uncle. Jamie would never.”
Rolling my eyes, I said, “He’ll be fine.”
“I just worry. He’s my baby.”
Conversations like this made me want to hang up the phone. Being five years older than my brother meant I hadn’t been her baby in a long time. Usually, it didn’t bother me, but something about this conversation rubbed me the wrong way. “He’s eighteen. I was eighteen when I started working for Uncle Rick full-time and got my own place.”
“But you’re so different from your brother.” She clicked her tongue. “You’ve always been more mature and responsible.”
Because I had to be, but I can’t say that to her.
“You’ve got to give him a chance to stand on his own. We can’t always be there to bail him out.”
Another annoying, heavy sigh came through the phone. “You’re right. It’s just hard.”
I didn’t respond because I understood. Letting Jamie be his own person was hard for me too. The difference? I was finally allowing myself to get a life—at least that was what I was trying to do.
“Listen, Mom. I’ve got to go. I only have half an hour for lunch today.”
“All right, sweetie. Love you. Have a good day.”
“Love you too.”
A brand-new compact car parked in the spot next to me as I opened my door.
“Wait!” Sarah yelled, popping out of the tiny car. Holding up a greasy brown bag, she grinned.
“What’cha got there?” I asked, closing my car door.
She walked around the back of her car and presented the bag with a flourish. “Oh, this? Just two Chicago dogs, the way Jamie said you liked them, a gyro for me, and two orders of fries.”
“You’re an angel,” I sighed, pulling her into a hug.
