Dear Love, I Hate You (Easton High)

Jesus… what happened to us, Mom?

I used to love you to death.

Now I can’t even look at you.

“All done.” She smiles, patting my chest.

I don’t answer, or smile, or give her any reason to believe I’m enjoying her presence, but she still crowds my space, opening her arms for a hug. She laces her arms around my shoulders, resting her cheek flat against my torso. I don’t return her embrace.

“I’m so proud of you, you know that?” she whispers and breaks away. I’m relieved when she turns to leave.

Until she stops at the door.

“Right, I almost forgot. What time do you think you’ll be coming back home from the gym tomorrow?”

Anger rips me apart. I know exactly what she does when I’m at the gym.

“Why?” I spit defensively. “So you can squeeze in a quickie with the plumber?”

Her mouth falls open.

She even stumbles back a step for effect.

Two points for efforts, zero points for the non-existent acting skills.

“W-What are you talking about?”

Oh, for fuck’s sake.

“Save it… I know you’re cheating on Dad.”

She shuffles her feet, her gaze descending to the floor.

“Xavier, baby, you have to understand. After twenty years of marriage… the spark isn’t what it used to be. I did what I had to do.”

I scoff.

Is she seriously pulling the “I had no choice” card?

“You did what you had to do?” I lose my temper. “Are you even listening to yourself? I’m supposed to believe that you had to fuck a minor? My fucking friend? Finn’s fucking brother?”

Her skin pales. “So you are Zac.”

Why am I surprised that’s all she got from my speech?

“Spare me the part where you act like you didn’t know,” I spit.

“I didn’t!” she shrieks. “Well, I had my doubts, but I wasn’t sure until now. I was still hoping it was a coincidence.”

“News flash: you’re the only person in town who fucked a minor.”

Her cheeks flare, but instead of taking accountability, telling me she was out of her mind, how much she regrets it, she says, “I should’ve known you were Zac when I came home and saw that pink-haired girl getting into her friend’s car last week.”

Like a lovesick fool, I take the bait.

“Don’t fucking talk about her!”

Her eyes grow, and she nods as though she sees things clearly.