Page 141 of Wrecking Us
“What better time than now?” he asks.
“I don’t know,” I add, looking out the window. “I have thought about it, though.”
“And?”
“And I think it’s a good idea, just… not right now.”
“When?”
“Don’t be pushy,” I say with a smirk.
“I’m sorry that I want us to live together.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to live with you, Trey, but I need to prepare for this. It’s a huge change.”
“I know that, and I’m not trying to make you do something you don’t want to, but I’m excited. Now that I have this new job, I don’t have to travel. Our houses already aren’t far from each other, so what’s the point of having two? Unless… you intend to leave me?” He narrows his eyes suspiciously but playfully, as he comes to a red light.
“Yes, Trey, that is totally part of my evil plan.”
“I knew it. You’re just using me.”
“Uh huh… and what exactly am I using you for?”
He gasps. “Are you saying I have nothing to offer?”
I reach for the radio and turn the volume up.
“Wow, I see how it is.”
I smile the rest of the way to my mother’s house.
Dinner goes off without any issue, and I realize I was stressing myself out for nothing. I try paying attention to everything a little more, for what it is and not what I’m seeing it as. I try not to think about what people are going to do before they do it and just let things happen. It’s not easy but my anxiety is certainly less… and we got through the entire meal and dessert without a single crazy thing happening.
“So, Hudson, how are things?” Mandy asks, sitting on the arm of the couch. I look up at her, wondering why she’s so close to me.
“Fine,” I say.
“Trey’s treating you well?”
“As well as he should be. Why?”
She shrugs, sipping from her glass of wine. “Just wanted to check on my brother.”
“Step-brother,” I correct.
She rolls her eyes.
“I don’t know why that matters to you so much.”
“I don’t know why it matters to you that it matters to me.”
“Okay,” she says, turning her attention to the TV.
“How’s work going, sweetheart?” her dad asks, sitting on the other end of the couch.
“Fine, as usual.”
“And that man of yours? How’s he treating you? Good I hope.”
