Broken Hearts (Light in the Dark 5)

And Jace?

He definitely matters.

Jace and I walked around for a while before we ended up grabbing an early dinner and heading back to the apartment so he could get ready for work.

I’m in bed now in a pair of panties and a tank top. Even with so little clothes I’m sweating like crazy, because the air conditioning chose tonight to break and our landlord can’t get someone to fix it until tomorrow.

Figures.

My phone rings, and I pick it up without looking at the caller ID figuring it’s Thea or Rae.

Big mistake.

“Novalee,” my mom’s curt voice snaps across the line.

I mentally face palm myself. I can’t believe I was such an idiot not to check who was calling.

It’s not like my mom or dad calls me on the regular. I’ve only heard from them a handful of times since I moved out here for college.

“Hi, Mom.” I force some cheeriness into my voice but it comes across tight-lipped and curt. I don’t want to talk to her. She’s never really been a mom to me, and I have a new family now. My friends have shown me more love in the last couple of years than she did in the eighteen years I was home.

“Claudia called.” I roll my eyes. This has to be good. “She says you’re dating some hoodlum with tattoos.”

“Well, considering his dad was a politician I wouldn’t call him a hoodlum.”

“He has tattoos, Novalee.” She says it slowly like I’m too stupid to understand.

“I’m aware.”

“How could you do this?”

“Do what?”

“Be with someone who’s practically a criminal.”

I snort. “Having tattoos doesn’t mean he’s a criminal.”

She sputters on the other end. “Well, in my book it does.”

“Is your book dated to the biblical era?” I know I shouldn’t get snarky with her but I can’t help it. What can I say, she brings out the worst in me.

She’s silent on the other end. “I don’t know why I even bother talking to you. You’re such an ungrateful brat.”

“You keep thinking that.”

“I will, considering you haven’t come home to visit us once since you left.”

“Do you want me to come visit?” Silence again. “Mhmm, I figured.”

She doesn’t say goodbye or I love you or anything of the sort. The line simply goes dead.

“Goodbye to you too,” I mutter and toss my phone on the bed.

I’m used to her behavior so it doesn’t bother me anymore. It is what it is.

I slide my laptop closer to me and lift the lid, typing in my password.

The screen lights up and I click over to photoshop so I can resume editing.