“When I was five. Mom, I’m almost twenty-four. Can we at least move to a week-long celebration?”
“Would it be so bad to let me have my way?”
“Yes. It really would.” We reach the bus and Trent catches my attention to mouth the word doctor and point to the bus. “Hey, Mom. I have to run. I’ve got some things to take care of before the show tonight.”
“Sweetheart, I don’t want to upset you, but I went to see your father yesterday.” She says the words as if I care. She’s perpetually oblivious to the fact I don’t want a relationship with him. I get that she still loves him—some sick and twisted obsession I’ll never respect—but I gave up the fight. I just don’t get how she thinks I’ll change my mind.
The rest of the band climbs inside the bus, but Trent stands outside the door, miming some kind of replay of the entire wing challenge and maybe a naughty doctor. A giggle escapes my lips before I can fight it and he motions me to wrap things up.
“Mom. Let’s not fight. I really need to go.”
Her voice is unusually hard and demanding. It takes me by surprise. “He’s dying, Lexi. He wants his daughter. You want to hate him, fine. But he needs you and time is running out. I know there’s a soul under all that black somewhere.”
Anger boils with her accusation and demands. I close my eyes and take a deep breath before giving in to my temper.How dare she?I don’t owe him anything. “Bye, Mom.” I grind the words past my lips and end the call before I tell her to fuck off.
I try, I really do, to be respectful of the person she is, even though we are so different. All I want is for her to do the same. My expectations, however low, are still too high, and I’m left with familiar disappointment. I’m on my own. It’s simply how it is. But I’m strong enough to take care of myself.
“Finally.” Trent’s smile kicks up as I stomp toward him. “Doctor’s inside.”
He’s trying to be friendly. Nice. But his consideration is only salt to the wound my mother just split open. “Fuck you.” I respond the best way I know, expecting that will be enough to push him away, at least for a few hours.
Of course, he smiles wider. “With pleasure, my lady.”
So damn frustrating.
