“What’s going on with you lately?” Carissa asked.
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit, you’re hardly ever home, and when you do come through the door it’s late. Are you see
ing someone?”
“Look, Carissa, this is my house, and I’m a big girl. I can come and go as I please. It’s not like I’m out all hours and coming home drunk. I don’t need an intervention.”
“I know, I’m just worried about you… you haven’t really dated anyone since Jackson.”
“Which is why I’m not ready to talk about this yet.”
“Talk about what?”
“The man I’m seeing.”
“Sutton, you still won’t tell any of us why you broke up with Jackson.”
“You know the saying all that glitters isn’t gold?”
“Of course.”
“That should say it all,” Sutton said. She turned on her heel, ignoring her sister’s huffs of indignation. She wasn’t ready to share Sidney with anyone else just yet. Right now their relationship was just between the two of them, and she liked the freedom that came with that arrangement.
****
Sutton groaned as her cell phone went off for the third time in a row. She squinted her eyes, and growled low in her throat, the fuzzy red numbers that read 9:30. Shit, only her mother or the hospital would call right now. Neither was a conversation she was looking forward to. She rolled over on to her side and grabbed the phone, throwing a hand over her eyes as she hit talk. With her luck, her little sister had spilled the beans about her mystery beau.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Sutton, were you still asleep?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“I’m sorry, I thought Carissa said today was one of your days off.”
“It is. I was out with friends last night.”
“Oh, that’s good, honey.”
“How’s everyone doing?”
“We’re good. I actually wanted to check in on you to see how things are going with Carissa.”
“She’s doing okay; Michelle goes to school here, so she’s spending a lot of time with her. To be honest I don’t see her much with my schedule.”
“I know you’re busy. You can send that girl home any time you get tired.”
“It’s okay, Mom. I know you could use a break. You’re retired; you’re supposed to be enjoying yourself.”
“I have my red hats, bingo, and my part time job. I keep myself active, young lady; I’m only in my sixties, you know.”
“I know, Mom. I just worry about you.”
“Well don’t, it’s supposed to be the other way around. I ran into an old friend of yours yesterday.”
“Oh really?”