The Collection (Contemporary Reverse Harem 5)

Chapter 18

RAND

“Ihate this goddamn makeup,” I said.

“Yeah, but it makes you look so pretty,” Shane said, smirking.

Marlon and Cross laughed.

“I’m serious. I don’t know why we need to wear this shit. I look fine without it.” I took another makeup remover pad and scrubbed until my face turned bright red.

It killed me, it really did, that they put this foundation crap on our faces to ‘even out the skin tone’ but gave us nothing to remove it with. So, I’d taken to carrying these makeup remover things they’d sold me at Sephora.

I’d gone in and totally pretended to be shopping for a girlfriend. I think they bought it, even when I asked for explicit instructions about how to use the things.

Whatever. I didn’t give a damn whether they believed me or not. But I sure didn’t want to go to my night classes with makeup on, nor did I want any of my classmates to see that I carried makeup remover with me. I stuffed the package at the very bottom of my backpack under my textbooks. The only way they’d find it there was if I died and someone had to go through my stuff. And at that point, I guess I wouldn’t really care.

“Dude, just go into the bathroom and wash your face with soap and water. That’s what I do,” said Cross.

But Cross was way more into the modeling thing than I was. He’d been at it since he was practically a kid, and nothing about it fazed him. I was just doing this shit to pay my way through school. Soon as I had my degree, it would be adios fashion world.

At least, that was the plan.

“I don’t like the soap in the bathrooms here. It dries my skin,” I said.

Marlon whooped with laughter.

Bastard.

“Rand, first you’re bitching about wearing makeup, then you’re saying the soap dries your skin. You need to man up, my friend,” he said.

“Oh, fuck off, all of you.” I was already in a shitty mood, having stayed up half the night studying for an exam I had in an hour.

“Chill, dude. You’re gonna ace your exam,” Marlon said.

I had to say, no one supported my education efforts more than Marlon, which was funny because he’d dropped out of school. But I supposed he’d go back some day when he was ready. At least, that’s what he said.

“Okay, ladies,” I said to the guys once we were back in our street clothes after another fashion show. “I’ll see you later for beers. Wish me luck. And Shane, try showering this time before showing up.”

“Just for that, Rand, I’m skipping my shower, and I’m gonna sit nice and close to you.”

I laughed and headed out.

* * *

“Mom? That you?” I asked, fumbling with my cellphone earbuds.

“Oh, hi, Rand, honey. I was just looking to make sure your father was out back.”

Now that I’d been away from the Bronx for a while, my mother’s accent never failed to stun me when we hadn’t spoken in a while.

“Mom, you don’t have to hide from Dad that you talk to me, you know. It’s not a crime,” I said.

She lowered her voice, which pissed me the hell off. “Well, you know, I don’t like upsetting your father.”

“Oh, Mom.” But what could I say? It was a conversation I’d had a hundred times before. The saying hope never dies carried a lot of truth.

“Hey, can you come down to the city and spend the day with me? I’d like to take you shopping and to lunch.”

“Aren’t you busy with your classes and your, um, work?”

“I am busy, but never too busy to spoil my favorite girl.”

That got a giggle out of her, which was music to my ears. Shit, I’d do anything for my mom. She’d always believed in me and had run interference when things got rough with Dad.

Speaking of Dad…

“Is he there, Mom? Can you put him on the phone?”

“Oh, honey, you know how he is. And I think he might be busy out back…”

“Mom, please. Just tell him I’m on the phone.”

She sighed. “All right. Hold on.”

I heard her place the phone on the kitchen counter, the one I knew so well, I could picture every nick and scratch, and remember sitting on it when I was a kid getting my temperature taken. A door slammed in the background, which I knew was the one that led to the row house’s backyard. While waiting for my mother to return, I waved across the courtyard to a couple people from my history class. I could see from where I sat, the room was starting to fill up for the exam.

Funny how on exam day, the room was so much fuller than on a regular lecture day.

“Honey?” my mother asked.

“Yeah, Ma. Is he coming?” My chest was tight. Maybe I shouldn’t have called right before an exam. It wouldn’t do to go in distracted.

Another sigh. “Right now is not a good time, sweetie. He’s trying to fix the fence we share with the Millers.”

Eh. He was always busy with something. That was okay, though. I wasn’t going to give up trying.

“I’m sorry, Rand. You know how your father is…” She trailed off.

“It’s okay, Mom. Don’t be sorry. But, I do expect you to find a day to spend with me. Will you think about it? I’d really like that.”

“Yes, sweetie, I promise. I will. Seeing you would be good.”

“Okay, Ma. I love you.”

I heard a door slam in the background, and heavy footsteps in the kitchen.

“Bye now!” she said cheerfully.

As if she’d been chatting with one of her girlfriends.

* * *