“You’re human, Jake, and you’re getting older. You can’t spend your life alone. It’s not healthy. You need somebody to fall asleep with at night, just like the rest of us.”
“I don’t. I’ve got everything, remember? I don’t need anyone.”
“Cause money’s the most fulfilling thing in the world.” He laughed. “Be realistic, Jake.”
“I should go.” I got up.
“I don’t mean to piss you off, man.”
“No, it’s not that. I’m tired. Gonna call it a night.”
“All right, man.”
I was furious at Matt. Did he have to rub it in? He knew that I couldn’t get caught up with a woman, but he kept pushing just like everyone else. What I did with my life was my choice.
Chapter 18
Mercedes
“You know you don’t have to do that,” my mother said. She was off work for a few hours, and she watched me mix up a bowl of dumplings.
“I want to do something nice for Dad. He hasn’t had a home-cooked meal in months, and he deserves
it.” I stood over the counter mixing the dough in a big glass bowl.
“It’s just a lot of work,” she said. “That’s all you do is work. It must be terrible.”
I looked at her with raised eyebrows. “Look who’s talking.”
“I just think you should put your feet up a little bit,” she said.
I dropped the spoon, washed my hands, and sat across the table from her. “I know you’re worried, Mom, but it doesn’t have anything to do with me.”
“No, sweetie, don’t…”
“It’s okay to be upset, but deflecting is just going to make it worse. You’re worrying about everything, and it’s tearing you up.”
“I’ll be fine.” She brushed me off and pulled a cigarette pack out of her pocket.
“Oh, no. You are not starting that again.” I snatched it out of her hand and put them under the faucet to ruin them.
“Don’t do that.” Her voice was subdued and filled with tension.
“This is what I’m talking about.” I threw the wet pack in the trash. “You’re taking this out on yourself.”
“You’re right. I just have to do better.”
“No,” I admonished her. “That’s the kind of thinking that started this behavior.”
“What do you want me to do? Live in bed?”
“I would prefer it. You still haven’t quit your night job.” I pulled the lid off the stock pot on the stove. A wave of savory steam flowed out into the kitchen.
“I’m not going to,” she said.
“What about sleep? Sanity? Don’t those things matter?”
“Not as much as you and your father. You need stability. Besides, I don’t know how your job is going to work out. You just started.”