Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78007 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78007 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Hey, Mama,” I say, sitting down at one of the picnic tables around campus.
“Hey! How’s my favorite son?”
“I’m your only son,” I remind her. I have two younger sisters but no brothers.
“You’d be my favorite no matter what.”
I grin. See what I mean about her being great? My dad is the same, though he’s not the type to call me every week just to check in. “I’m pretty fantastic, aren’t I?”
“You know you are. Now tell me about your first week of school. I want to hear about all your classes. What are your professors like? They better be good to my baby.”
“I’ll tell them you said so,” I tease.
“You can give them my phone number too if you want.”
I chuckle. “Thanks, Mama.”
“Seriously, though. I want all the details.”
“There’s not much to say yet,” I answer, but still tell her about each professor and some of the work we’ve done so far. She likes to feel involved. One of Mom’s biggest regrets is she didn’t have the traditional college experience, and she and my dad have worked their asses off to make sure I can. Making them proud is so important to me. They’ve sacrificed so much for my sisters and me, but sometimes the pressure feels like too much weight for me to carry. She would be devastated if she knew that, but I don’t know how to get past it.
When I finish sharing with her about Financial Management, Marketing Methods, Introduction to Entrepreneurship, and Legal and Regulatory Environment, which could also all be called boring, boring, boring, and boring, she asks, “How’s Whitney?”
Shit. How did I forget that my girlfriend broke up with me and I haven’t told my family? I’ve finally told the guys, but that’s it. One would think that would be on my mind the past week, but spending time with Perry has made it easy to forget. I realize that makes me sound like a bit of a dick about Whit, and the truth is, even though I didn’t feel the same about her anymore, if she didn’t have the guts to break up with me, I probably would have never broken up with her. “Um…we’re not together anymore.”
“Oh, Theo. I’m so sorry. Why did she break up with you?”
I shift on the bench, watching the sun through the leaves of a palm tree and trying not to be annoyed that Mom automatically assumed she was the one to break up with me. She’s right, of course, and yes, I just thought to myself that I would have never dumped her, but still. It’s one thing to think those thoughts about myself and another entirely for someone to show they believe the same.
“It just wasn’t working out anymore. For both of us.” But I didn’t do it. I wouldn’t have done it. Why am I like this?
“I’m so sorry. Are you okay? Maybe you should come home for the weekend. We can spend some family time together.”
“Nah, that’s okay. I don’t want to waste the gas money.”
“You deserve better.” I think she’s talking about how our family struggles to make ends meet and about Whitney.
“I have a lot. I’m thankful. You guys are the best.”
“You’re such a sweet boy. Fuck Whitney. There’s someone better out there for you.”
I laugh. It’s not often my mom curses, but mess with one of her kids and you’re gonna have to deal with her wrath. “Thanks, Mom. It’s for the best.” For some reason, Perry pops into my head right then and I add, “I met a new friend. He’s a guy, so you know, just a friend, but he’s cool.”
“He must be if he’s friends with you. That’s good news! What’s his major?”
“He’s not enrolled in school. He moved out here to get to know his brother. We met by accident.”
“Well, I’m glad you met him. And I hope you know how proud of you we are, Theo. The first person in our family who’s going to graduate from college. I still can’t believe it.”
My stomach twists, and I bite back my groan. The thought of all this money and going into all this debt for something I struggle with and might not even be good at is just…a lot. But I don’t know if there’s anything else I want. Business is as good as anything, and it’s practical.
“I know, Mom. Listen, I gotta go. The guys are waiting for me at the house.”
“Okay. I love you. Let me know if you change your mind about coming home, and don’t worry, you’ll find a nice girl who’s better for you than Whitney was. I just know it.”
I smile. “I love you too.”
Casey, Avery, and Jack are there when I get home. They’re all in the living room with chips and schoolbooks on the coffee table.
“Hey, what’s up?” Avery asks when I sit beside him on the couch.