Atone (The Disciples 2)

“You are so wrong. He’ll break your heart and leave.” Her bitterness over my dad doing that very thing taints her.

“Look, after he left, I was honest with myself. We can’t help who we are attracted to or who we need to be with. It’s like breathing air. I have to have it. And now that I have had a taste of this man, I want him. It’s not that difficult, Mom. I always have.”

She opens her mouth to say something and by her look, I can tell she wants to give me the mom lecture, so I stop her before she starts.

“Please, Mom.” I hold up a hand and smile. “You can’t seriously be thinking about giving me a lecture. You’re the worst judge of men. And even if you are right and he does break my heart, it’s my heart, not yours.”

“No. You’re my daughter, and I’m telling you nothing good can come from him.”

Thankfully a bunch of college kids enter the diner.

“I don’t want to fight. Frankly I have no idea if I’m ever going to see him again. But you need to wrap your mind around the fact that I like how I feel when I’m with him. Other than that—”

Her eyes narrow on mine. “Don’t do this, Charlize. Anyone but him. He was bad before. I can’t imagine he’s gotten better.”

“He hasn’t,” I call over my shoulder, grabbing a stack of menus. “But trust me—he needs me.”

She stares at me like I’m some sort of unusual species and grabs her phone. I’m sure she’s calling my dad, which is hilarious because he’s in Romania filming a low-budget movie. What she thinks he can do is anyone’s guess.

For whatever reason, we have a busy early dinner crowd, so I don’t get a chance to talk to her again and I feel a little guilty as she touches my arm on her way out.

“I only want you to be happy.”

“I know.” I reach for a stack of pancakes and a club sandwich. “But I’m not stupid. Give me a little credit.”

She nods, though her eyes look sad. It’s obvious she still thinks I’m doomed.

“Okay, I’ll be nothing but supportive.” She smiles as I turn toward the door preparing to kick it open since my hands are loaded with plates. “Until that asshole breaks your heart. Then I’ll make sure he goes to jail.”

“Mom.” I stop and roll my eyes at her as she laughs and holds the door open for me.

“It’s true,” she sings it as I pass her.

The guy she’s dating with ridiculous white teeth is waiting for her at the door as usual. She cuddles up to him as I try not to roll my eyes again. She has to accept my choices the same as I have to accept hers. And I don’t trust that guy. Besides the unnaturally white teeth, with those clothes, it looks like he raids his hip son’s closet.

Four hours later, my feet are tired, and I’m locking the front door and happily turning on the pink neon CLOSED sign. Clad in a short skirt and high-heeled boots, Cindy stands with her hands on her hips, blocking the way to the office.

I swear I don’t know how she does it. She and my mom can go all day and night in the most uncomfortable outfits using the excuse that beauty is painful.

“We need to talk.”

Ignoring her, I look around the half-dark diner. It smells of bleach and the disinfectant the cleaning staff uses to clean the kitchen. I nod and wave at Manuel, Raphael, and Jorge as they exit out back.

“Thanks, guys. See you tomorrow.” They wave back as the heavy emergency exit door slams shut. I head to the register to get the rest of the cash, which I’ll slip into the safe, and prepare to head home myself.

“Charlize, your mom is gone. My vagina is on fire, but I’m sticking around because I want details.” She follows me and leans over the counter.

“Did you just say your vagina is on fire?” I slam the registers shut and power off the computers.

She waves her hand. “Long story. First you.”

I toss the cash in a red bag with a zipper, the coins in a blue one, then go straight for the office and the safe.

She flips on the lights and flops down into one of the chairs, putting her tip money into her small purse.

“I want the truth. Does he fuck as good as he looks?” As I turn to her, I drop the coin bag and pick it up.

“God, Cindy.” I can’t help but shake my head. “How do you know I fucked him?”

“Because I’m not stupid.” She tries to cross her legs then grimaces. “I fucked his friend and I think he gave me a bladder infection.”

Again, the bag falls to the ground as I do a double take. I give up trying to open the safe and turn to look at her, my mouth hanging open.