Page 83 of From This Moment (After We Fall 4)
“I like the work.”
“Did you even eat this week? You never came home for dinner.”
“Yes, I ate.”
“Where?”
“I’ve been hanging out with Pete a lot.” I hated to lie about my time with Hannah, but it seemed wise for now. “At his house, or sometimes we just grab whatever.”
“Oh. Well, that’s good. You need to have some fun. And I’m looking so forward to your birthday dinner.”
“Where is it?”
Her shiny blue eyes twinkled. “It’s a surprise.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. You don’t have to do anything but show up next Saturday. I’ve got it all planned.”
“But how will I know where to show up?”
“Never you mind,” she said, busying herself by tossing her tissue in the trash and fussing with her hair. “I’ll tell you in plenty of time.”
Something cold and slithery snaked up my spine. I crossed my arms. “And who’s on the guest list?”
“Never you mind about that, either,” she said, patting me on the shoulder. “All I want is for you to come ready to have a nice time.” She left the kitchen before I could protest.
Should I go after her? Tell her not to bother scheming, I wasn’t interested? Admit to her I’d fallen for Hannah years ago and couldn’t see myself with anyone else, and I was only waiting for her to accept me openly? Confess that we’d had sex in her bathroom, on her bedroom floor, and in the backseat of my car in the space of four days?
I almost laughed out loud. She’d probably pass out. And Hannah would be furious. No, the best thing to do was ease into things slowly where Hannah was concerned, and appease my mother whenever I could. The birthday dinner seemed like a small thing to give her, a little gift from our past, when she’d plan huge, fun parties for Drew and me.
I could do that much for her.
“You look nice. Where are you headed?” My mother eyed me as I scooped up my keys from the kitchen counter and stopped for a moment to check my messages.
“Over to get Hannah and Abby.”
I didn’t even look up at her, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw her stiffen. “For what?”
“I want to buy Abby a piano. We’re going into Port Huron to check some out.”
“Why?”
“Because there’s a store there that sells them.” As if I hadn’t understood the question.
“No, I mean why are you buying her a piano?”
I slipped my phone into my coat pocket and met her eyes. “Because she wants lessons and she’s talented and it’s what Drew would have done.”
“Oh.” She thought about that. “Hannah never mentioned to me Abby wanted lessons. We could have bought Abby a piano.”
“This isn’t about you, Mom. Hannah probably didn’t mention it because she doesn’t want to be a charity case.”
“That’s a good point, you know. Pianos are expensive. This is quite a gift.”
“I’m quite a guy.” I chose to brush off her comment with a joke rather than let her turn this into a discussion about the inappropriate nature of buying Hannah such an expensive gift. “See you later.”
