Stepping inside the room that will be mine in the Bullies house, I hit answer on my phone.
“Hey, Ma. What’s up?”
“Hey, honey. I know y’all’s party just started, but I need a favor.”
Sitting on my bed, I turn the volume up on my phone. The party did just start, and it’s already hopping. The music is blaring and people are filing in. It’s awesome to be with my boys, living it up the way I have for the last two years. I can always be sure to let loose at these kind of parties. It’s just me and my boys. It’s gonna be a great night.
But first, I gotta see what my momma needs.
“Sure, what’s up?”
She hesitates, and my heart sinks; I know this isn’t going to be good. “So Jude sent the money for the taxes on the house, but I gave him the wrong amount. With the wedding and all, I really don’t want to ask for more. Can I take it from your account? I’ll pay you back. I promise.”
Closing my eyes, I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Sure, how much?”
“Four hundred.”
“Yeah, that’s fine, and don’t worry about paying me back,” I say before opening my eyes. “Once I sign my contract, that will be chump change. No worries, I’ll make sure everything is paid off then.”
“No,” she says quickly. “I’ll pay you back, and you know it’s not your job to take care of me.”
I scoff. “Yeah, but I will.”
“Jayden Mitchell, you know I hate asking you. Don’t make this hard.”
“I’m not trying to. I’m just telling you that it’s not a big deal. Take what you need; that’s why I’m here.”
“You’re not supposed to be though,” she says sadly, and I’m not sure what she wants here.
“Okay? What do you want me to say?”
Letting out an annoyed breath, she says, “I don’t know, honey. I’m sorry. I just hate asking you boys for anything.”
“It’s fine, Mom. You’ve always taken care of us.”
“I know, but I just hate it. I feel so helpless. I don’t know what I’d do without you kids. I just wish this divorce was over, and I could get my money.”
Shaking my head, I stand, reaching for the door handle. It’s time to get off the phone because I am not going to talk about my dad and their divorce. “Yeah, okay, well I’ll talk to you later.”
“All right. Thank you, honey,” she says and I smile.
“Sure, Mom. Love you.”
“Love you.”
I open the door just as I hit end, and when I look up, Jace is there. “What happened? Mom okay?”
I nod. “Yeah, she needed some money for the house taxes.”
“I thought Jude took care of those,” he says, perplexed, and I nod.
“She told him the wrong amount.”
“Are you going to tell him?”
“No,” I say with a shake of my head. “I had the money.”
“Oh, okay. Maybe call Dad for it?”