Page 127 of Someone Like Me
“Drew would never hurt me. Why would either of you jump to that conclusion?”
My parents glance at each other. I don’t miss the hint of guilt in either of their faces. Mom speaks up.
“Well, you weren’t returning my calls, and Janine said you stayed here last night—”
“You called Janine?” My voice pitches higher all by itself.
My mother lowers her gaze as well as her voice. “Your father actually went over there.”
I glare at him. “What the hell, Dad? It’s not even nine in the morning.”
“Honey, we’re only in town for another week,” Dad says, going straight for the guilt. “We want to see you, and we want to work things out.”
I nod, acknowledging the truth in this. But that burning triangle in my middle is starting to glow yellow again. I hate being at odds with them. But I also hate the expectations they have for me.
“Everything will be worked out when you guys realize that I’m an adult, and I will lead my own life.”
This time Mom frowns. “Evie, you have to know that’s exactly what we want for you. For you to be ready to lead your own life. We—”
I put up a hand to stop her. “No...No.” The edge in my voice is made of stone. I don’t think I’ve ever heard it before. “Do you hear yourself? Because I do. You are saying that youwant me to be ready.I’m saying Iam ready.And even if I’m not, Mom, even if I have to plow headlong through years of mistakes, they are mine to make.”
Dad wraps his arm around Mom’s waist and pulls her closer. They look united. Indivisible. “Evie, one day, I hope, you’ll be a parent, and then you’ll understand. The hardest thing in the world is watching your childplow headlong through years of mistakes,”he says, echoing my words with an uncomfortable emphasis. “If you’d only just let us help you, we could save us all a lot of misery.”
I sigh. This is getting us nowhere. And Drew is waiting for me.
“You want to help me? Right now?” I ask, moving my gaze back and forth between them.
“Yes, of course,” Mom says.
“You know we do, E,” Dad says.
I nod tightly. “Good. Stay right here.” Without giving them a chance to respond, I turn and sprint across the yard before taking Drew’s stairs two at a time. I open his apartment door and find Gem already standing behind it, pacing with excitement. “Guess what, Gemini? You’re going to spend some quality time with Grandma and Grandpa today.”
I work his squirming body into the harness and clip on his leash. “Let’s go.” His descent down the wrought iron stairs makes just as much noise as his climb did last night, but when he sees my parents at the back fence, Gem pulls so hard he nearly dislocates my shoulder.
Barking with joy, Gemini bounds up to the fence and slaps the top of it with his paws.
“Gem!” Mom squeals as he licks her face, but she doesn’t push him away. My dad just laughs when he gets the same treatment. The reunion is so happy and uncomplicated I find myself smiling too.
Thank God for dogs.
Dad scrubs Gemini’s head with rough affection. “So… uh… he stayed with you last night?” he asks, keeping his eyes on my dog.
“Yeah, Dad. Drew says he’s welcome.”
Tight-lipped, Dad nods. He presses his mouth to the gold flap of Gem’s ear.“ Good boy,” he whispers.
I roll my eyes. “Gem really loves Drew.” I bite down on the urge to confess that I do too. “He’s a great judge of character. Maybe you should give Drew a chance.”
An uncomfortable silence settles over the three of us. Fine. We’re done talking if we can’t talk about this.
“Look, I have to go. Gem can stay in Drew’s apartment or he can go back to Janine’s but if—”
“We’ll look after him,” Mom chimes in eagerness brightening her eyes. “We’d love to. Wouldn’t we, Elliot?”
Dad scratches Gemini under his chin, one of his favorite spots. Gem’s lips pull into a canine smile. My dad chuckles. “I sure have missed this face,” he mutters. Then he looks up at me. “I know you’re asserting your independence and all that, but are you okay for money? Dog food and heartworm prevention and flea medicine is expensive. I wouldn’t want him to miss a dose because you were short.”
I raise a brow at him. “I’m not short, Dad.” But he’s right. Those things are expensive, and even though I need to make sure Gem’s covered, I haven’t really had a chance to sit down and iron out my budget. It is about time for his monthly flea treatment...
