“Just like her father,” Austin adds quite seriously.
Irene chuckles. “Yes, exactly like him.”
I know she means it.
Even if she doesn’t, there’s no room for negotiation.
“Okay, let’s take a ten-minute break and get on with this show.”
Water runs from the open tap.
Taking deep breaths, I watch my nostrils flare with each inhale when my phone starts buzzing.
Closing the tap, I pull it out of the pocket.
Ma.
My throat closes up. Not telling her I was coming here may have crossed my mind once or twice on the plane over, but I knew if I mentioned it, she would have figured out a way to get me to come home.
This is what happens when you don’t pay attention to your daughter for thefirst ten years of her life.
The nail of my thumb scrapes the skin of my index finger repeatedly. I swipe out of the call while it continues buzzing in my hand and find my way to the app that solves my emotional problems. The bright red summer sale with the lines of books over the banner has me clicking instantly.
There’s a new edition of the book with the dragon riders and a war college. I add it to cart.
There’s a new romance novel with an adorable, illustrated cover.
Also added to cart.
Another, then another.
Each buzz means one book.
Total of fifteen.
I check out.
$365.32
The buzzing stops.
I stop.
But the damage is done.Again.
This is what got me into the library mess in the first place. If only I wasn’t so obsessed with buying books…
How the heck am I going to pay off 15k in the next six months if I can’t control myself?
Leaning against the opposite wall from the sink, I open up mine and Nadine’s chat thread.
In the land of the Swiss. I smell cow poop and happiness. I’m at peace.
She replies instantly.
Ate
Novaaa, mybooba. I miss you.
