Page 11 of No Easy Catch
Damn, she really wants me gone. Why does this feel weird?“Next week it is.” I didn’t stand up to leave, though. I tried to think of something to say, to prolong this conversation for some reason, though I couldn’t think why. Amber continued to watch me with an odd expression and when I was about to say something, she opened her mouth.
“Are you expecting me to walk you out? Is that why you’re not getting up? Because I’m not going to do that no matter how popular or good-looking you are.”
I barked out a laugh and finally stood. “Glad to know you think I’m good-looking.”
“Not news to you, Jeff. Don’t act shocked. You’re hot. An asshole, but hot. Now get out.”
6
AMBER
It was a sad reality to accept that the thought of a scandal happening at our school was more exciting than any of my classes. Three days into the second week, I had homework that I didn’t want to do and a missed call from my mom. It was a ten-minute walk back to the house and the perfect amount of time to have the awkward but brief conversation that would eventually have to happen. It was like picking between two wounds—want a dull continuous pain or a sharp stab? Both would bring me disappointment and put a cloud of doubt around me that would take a day or two to lose.But she’s my mom.
Doesn’t mean she can’t make me feel like shit.
I took a deep breath and called her back. It would be better than avoiding her… The one time I’d tried, she’d turned my brothers against me and it had been catastrophic during the holidays.Maybe she won’t answer…
“Hello, Amber.”
“Hey, Mom. What’s up?”
“Just checking in to see how my only daughter is doing. Am I not allowed to call you?”
Don’t take the bait. Don’t.“Of course you can.”
“I should think so. Now, Martin mentioned sending you another package, trying to showcase how he is a better human than I am. What did he send you so I can send him the money? The nerve he has sending you gifts and not your brothers… Having favorites serves no purpose.”
Yeah, like you don’t favor the boys in everything.“He just sent me some notepads for class, a college sweatshirt and hot chocolate.”
“If you need supplies and clothes, you need to ask me or your father. And I thought you were dieting? How does hot chocolate fit into that?”
My jaw hurt from how hard I gritted my teeth together. Yes, I had ten pounds that wouldn’t go away and she never let me forget it. “My roommates love hot chocolate.”
“Mm. Well, share it with them.”
Deep breath in and out.“Will do. Hey, I gotta run. I see a professor I need to catch up with.”
“Glad to see you take the initiative in something. Talk soon, Amber.”
It didn’t matter how many layers I wore—the chill ran bone-deep and the small pieces of self-confidence I built each week were torn down. It took a two-minute phone call to destroy my progress and my eyes tingled.
I am never enough to my mom.
My brothers are her babies.
I am too chubby, too crass, too lazy, too unremarkable to be her daughter.
Hannah Henderson is a knock-out and the fact that I’m not one disappoints her every day.
It pissed her off that her brother favored me over the boys and I hadn’t even mentioned the gift cards, cash or the new watch that had come in the package. She would flip her shit andinsult me to make herself feel better. It didn’t matter how many times Laney and Marissa talked to me about her narcissism, it never stopped the hurt.
God, I wanted to say to hell with being sober and have a drink.
Amber:Are either of you free? Need a distraction.
Marissa:Talk to your mom again?
Amber:Straight to the usuals. Weight, laziness, my uncle.
