I finished my conversation with her knowing that there was no use arguing with her. I’ll deal with Tony’s meddling ass later. It scares me when the two of them gang up on me. Two know-it-alls who always think they know what’s best for me.
Back in the kitchen the siblings were whispering and I could tell they were in the middle of some kind of standoff.
They pulled apart when they noticed that I was back. Like two fighters heading back to their corners after the bell. I looked from one to the other but they both kept it zipped.
“That was my mother. She’s offered to come back early from her trip to help sort you out Travis. If we go that route, you’ll probably end up staying with her during the week and spending weekends here.”
“You only have another semester left after winter break, you can stick it out right.” Or I can get him a car and he can drive the hour in and back that it would take. I’ll wait and see which idea fits best.
I didn’t even look at misery when I said that shit, but I could imagine the looks she was giving me. I’d already figured out that sometimes the only way to deal with her was to go full steam ahead. She has an opinion on every damn thing.
“I can do that, is your mom nice?”
“Hello, Mr. Steamroller, just because I let you bully me into coming here doesn’t mean I’ll let you do the same with my brother.”
“Do you have a better idea? You heard him, he’ll just keep running away if we send him back.”
“Who’s we? How do you even fit into this picture?” That didn’t even deserve an answer.
Chapter 20
My house was like a warzone for the rest of the weekend. It was clear where the battle lines were drawn and who was on whose side. She was outnumbered and out talked, and I knew once mom showed up it was only going to get worst.
That Friday night after dinner, Travis excused himself to go take a shower because as he said, he cooked so we had clean up duty. She’d kept silent throughout the meal while us guys talked the game.
That’s when I learned that she really had no idea who I was. She didn’t know anything about the game either, though she’d gone to watch her brother play and had even cheered him on.
I kinda liked that she didn’t know anything about me to be honest. All my attachments since high school had been women who were just as fascinated with my game play, and money as they were with me the man.
Her interest was just in an average Joe who she happened to meet. That’s if she really was interested. With the cold freeze coming from her side of the table, I could almost forget the taste of her kisses or that we’d shared any.
I helped her stack the dishwasher while she pretended I wasn’t in the room. I kept my eyes on the knives and left her to her inner thoughts, which weren’t too hard to read going by the way she slammed the dishwasher door after we were done.
I stood at the sink drying my hands and waited for the explosion. No one can hold in that much temper for long or they’d combust no doubt. It wasn’t long in coming.
“How dare you?” She slammed her hand down on the island top behind me, causing me to turn. Here we go. Her little face was tight and there was no mistaking the anger she no longer tried to hide.
“How dare me what?” I leaned back against the sink and folded my arms waiting for whatever hell she was about to rain down on my head.
“Why are you putting that nonsense in his head? I barely have enough room in my place for one. I’m at work or at school everyday, I barely get four hours of sleep at night, when am I supposed to have time to take care of him?”
“You only get four hours of sleep?”
“Not what we’re discussing.” She advanced on me and got herself in trouble. Since I had nowhere to move she only ended up getting way too close, close enough for me to touch.
She caught herself and moved to step back, but I stopped her with a hand on her hip.
“Hands off.” She swatted at my hand but I caught her hand in mine. My mind was still on the horrifying fact that she wasn’t getting any sleep.
That and the fact that my body had a weird fucking response to her yelling shit. Hard as a fucking pike. She’d probably castrate my ass if I tried anything so I ignored that little anomaly and focused on the other thing.
“You can’t live on four hours sleep baby, no way. We’ll cut down on your hours at the restaurant.” Apparently that was the wrong thing to say. You’d think I said I was going to fire her.