Page 15 of Completely Captivated
It wasn’t anything physical because she still looked much like a teenager to him.But her whole presence had changed.The air around her held more confidence; she seemed more secure in herself and her abilities.Her beauty, brains, and poise combined to make her even more attractive than when he’d seen her last.
The musical tone of his cell jarred him from his thoughts.Glancing at the face on the screen, he answered his phone.“Hi, Mom.”
“Did you see her today?”Patti immediately questioned.
“I’m fine, Mom.Thanks for asking.No, the movers didn’t put anything where it should be, so I’ve been working on that all damn night.And I just realized I haven’t eaten at all since around noon.”
“You’re a big boy.You’ll be fine.Now answer my question.”Patti pushed with her determined tone.
“I think I’m close to passing out from lack of sustenance.Can you die from not eating for several hours?I may be dying.”Jared continued teasing her.
He knew she wanted nothing more than to marry him off and have grandkids as soon as possible.She hadn’t hinted about it at all.She’d downright demanded it of him and even set a timeline before she cut him off from all his favorite foods at family meals.She played dirty, and he loved her for it.She’d been his biggest supporter, and she’d also been the first one to tell him when he was being a royal fuck-up.
“Jared Benjamin Miller!”
Jared had to laugh at that.There he was, twenty-five years old, and his mother calling him by his full given name still made him snap to attention, even over the phone.
“Yes, Mom.I went to see Christa.She even made lunch for me, and we talked for a while,” he finally answered her, knowing that small amount of information would never placate her.She was relentless when she wanted something, and what she wanted was for Jared and Christa to hand over their firstborn child to her.
“And?What else?”The frustration in Patti’s voice increased with each word, along with the hard edge in it that meant she’d had just about enough of his teasing.
“And, that’s all, really.We talked, caught up as much as we could.I told her I had to get to my condo because of the movers, and I left.What did you expect, Mom?”Jared replied, honestly trying to figure out what else she thought he should have done.
“I expected you to spend more time with the one girl who has always loved you but you took for granted.Your boxes could’ve waited.They’ll still be there later.You don’t know that Christa will be there for you tomorrow.”
The finality of her tone and the very real possibility that Christa could be taken already shook Jared, even if he tried to hide his uneasiness from Patti.Jared ran his hand through his hair, messing it up even more, and then scrubbed that hand over his face.His mother had a good point.Christa may very well be involved with someone.
He didn’t see a ring on her finger, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t in a serious relationship.He didn’t ask her and she didn’t offer it, but then, he’d given her no reason to even bring it up.He’d approached her as an old friend, the same way he’d always kept it because of their age difference.
“I’ll go see her again first thing in the morning, Mom.I promise,” he assured her solemnly.
“You didn’t even ask to see her again.Did you?”
Jared contemplated for half a second if he should ask who wrote theMom’s Book of Code Language,because she’d technically asked a question.But the way she said it left no room for a response.It also held a suspiciously inherent reprimand without the need for saying it aloud.Just as quickly as the thought crossed his mind, he dismissed it, knowing it would only result in a real tongue-lashing.
Patti sighed loudly, signaling her deep displeasure with him and his lack of advancement on her plans for his future.“Son, I don’t think you understand how serious this is.Christa was so young when you left for college, but shealwayskept in touch with me and asked about you every time we talked if I didn’t bring you up first.
“She was so hurt all the times you came home and didn’t bother to go see her.You haven’t even tried to fix the pain you’ve caused that sweet girl.Your actions today just proved to her even more that you don’t deserve her.Ifyoudon’t treat her right,someone elsewill.And we both know how you would feel about that.”
Patti had never been one to mince words or hold back what she thought, especially from her sons and about how they should treat the women in their lives.She also knew Jared had always carried a flame for Christa, even though he never once allowed himself to act upon it.At first, he’d protected her because she was so much smaller than everyone else.Truthfully, he quickly saw she didn’t need his protection—she was fully capable of taking care of herself.
She was quiet and reserved to those who didn’t know her.But to those who provoked her anger, she was aggressive and even a little scary at times.Christa had been a pleasant puzzle to Jared.He’d tried to figure her out, tried to box her into one category to define her, but she’d defied his attempts at every turn.
Her family was nonexistent, even though they were somewhat around.She’d grown up with a deadbeat father who only showed up when the gambling money ran out and a drug-addicted mother who was high or drunk more than she was sober.Despite the challenges she faced, Christa rose out of it and made life better for herself, never making excuses or accepting defeat.
Christa spent more time with Jared and his family than she did her own.His family took her in, and she stayed with them for days at a time before going back home.Not once did Christa’s mother call to check on her or show the slightest bit of concern about where she’d been.He knew Christa craved the family life his family could offer her—the closeness, the certainty that they would always be there for one another, and the bonds that were unbreakable.
“You’re right, Mom.As always.I’ll fix it tomorrow.I promise.”
“Jared, for your sake, I hope your ‘tomorrow’ isn’t too late.I love you, son.”
“Love you, too, Mom.”
With that, they hung up, and Jared dropped down on his couch.The gnawing in his stomach had been replaced with a tightening in his chest.Patti certainly had a way with words—and with making him feel about an inch tall.But as a grown man, he knew he couldn’t place the blame on his mom.No, that problem fell squarely on his shoulders.He knew he should’ve asked Christa out when he was with her.He came close once, but, as usual, he counted on her waiting for him.Until tomorrow.
He glanced at his watch and winced at how late it was.He contemplated calling her anyway but then realized aloud, “I didn’t even get her fucking phone number!”
Pushing up from the couch and pacing anxiously, he angrily kicked an empty box and sent it flying across the room.Grabbing a beer out of his refrigerator, one of the few things that he did have in his nearly bare kitchen, he took a long swig out of the longneck bottle, walked out onto his balcony, and propped his forearms on the rail.
