Page 17 of The Downside of Love
“If you’re not careful, you could pass out from exhaustion, keel over without warning. Maybe bleed internally from too much stress.”
I rub my forehead with my spare hand, telling myself to count to ten before I lash out on my mom. It’s not her fault she’s been overly worried since I broke up with Colby. She was devastated, and told me I was making a huge mistake, but she didn’t know all the details. She didn’t know that I was staying behind for them, for Bryan. If she’d known that, she’d have forced me to leave.
And I can’t. I can’t ever leave. Not because I’m stubborn and scared, but because I truly believe Bryan needs me, that I’m the one person who can help soothe him, and I don’t think he’ll understand why I’m not there for him.
It’s a sacrifice I’m making, but one I would make a thousand times over.
“Mom, I’m fine, and before you ask, yes, I’m taking my vitamins, I’m eating regularly, and I’m consuming copious amounts of water.”
“Is your pee clear?”
“Yes, Mother,” I drag out on a long sigh.
I think I might have to reconsider this wholestaying with my parentsthing when Stryder is in my apartment. My mom is going to be a helicopter mom, constantly overseeing everything I do.
“Your annoyed voice isn’t doing anything for me,” my mom teases.
“Well, your nagging is doing nothing for me either, so looks like we’re even.”
She chuckles. I know it’s all in love, the nagging, but at twenty-one, I’m over it.
“So what’s on your mind? You asked if we could talk.”
“Yeah, so do you remember Colby’s friend, Stryder?”
“Hmm . . .” She pauses. “Was he the tall one with striking blue eyes? A bit of a cutie from what I remember.”
Well, that’s one way to describe him. It would be creepy if my mom thought he was hot, I guess. Which, he is. Incredibly.
“Yes.”
“How’s he doing? He’s the one that didn’t get into flight school, isn’t he?”
“Yes, that’s him.”
"Poor kid. Is he doing okay?"
“Ehh, not so much. Not to get into too much detail, but his dad is making his life miserable at home. I saw him last night, completely drunk and in a dark place. He asked for help, to get him out of his house. Ryan and I talked about it and offered up our places.”
There is silence and I wince, knowing what’s probably going through my mom’s head.
“Do you think that’s a good idea? This is Colby’s best friend, right?”
“Yes. But it’s nothing romantic or anything. He just . . .” I sigh. “He really needs help, Mom. Given we both have small apartments, we thought we would trade back and forth, and that way we have some time to ourselves too. So he’ll stay with Ryan for a few days, and then he’ll stay at my place. On those nights, I was wondering if it was okay if I stayed with you guys?”
More silence.
Uh-oh.
I think I’m in for a lecture.
“Rory,” she finally says. “You know I love your helping heart and your passionate soul, but I really don’t think that’s a good idea. Not just for you, but for Bryan. It took us a while to get him used to you not living with us anymore. I don’t want to confuse him.”
And that makes me feel like a giant ass. She’s right, Bryan would be confused and I don’t want that. Even if I can’t see another way to make this work for Stryder, I can’t put that on my parents. I stayed—finished things with Colby—to carefor Bryan.
“That makes so much sense.” I’m a little embarrassed I didn’t even think about it that way.
“I love that you want to help him out, honey, but I really think you should let him figure this out on his own. Offering your apartment isn’t the solution. Maybe he needs to have a long chat with his dad.”
