Page 50 of Reckless Kisses
“Hey.”
“Mom, how are you?”
“Good!Bone-tired, but that’s nothing new.How are you?”
“Great.Just got home, but I’m going out again.”
“You have something at school?”Mom asked.
“No.I’m going out with Knox, actually.”
“Sterling?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, I always liked him,” she gushed.“He was maybe a bit crazy, but I always figured you could be a bit more reckless.”
I laughed.Mom forever egged me on.She said she’d kept waiting for my rebellious phase throughout my teenage years, but it never happened.
“So, where are you going?”Mom asked.
“I don’t know.He’s going to an event and asked if I wanted to tag along.I figured, why not?”
“Good for you.I was starting to worry.When you’re not at school, you think about projects for school or stay at home, grading papers.It’s good for you to get out a bit more.”
I hesitated before deciding to share about my dating fiasco.“You’re right.That’s why I went on a couple of dates.I made it my mission to put myself out there.”
“Oh!And how did that go?”
“Not good,” I admitted.
“Oh, honey.I’d give you advice if I could, but my experience with relationships hasn't been good at all.So I can only commiserate, my love.”
She never presumed to know better than me.Talking with Mom was like talking to a friend, except when she went off and ranted about Dad.That hadn’t happened in years, thankfully, but every time it did, it caught me completely off guard.
“I was just hoping that if I put myself out there, things would work out.”
“So, you and Knox are going out on a date?”Mom asked.
I swallowed hard.“No, we’re just hanging out.”
She laughed.“You know, honey, that’s something students do, not grown-ups.”
“Mom,” I chastised.
“It’s true.”
“We’re going as friends.”
“See?That sounds more adult.”
“Right, well, I’m going to have to hang up because he’s picking me up soon.”
“Let me know how the ‘hanging out’ goes.”I could hear the laughter in her voice.
“Mom, why are you making fun of me?”
“No reason.You have a great time, and tell Knox I said hi.”
