argue. “I have plenty of time to settle down.”
“Not if you keep picking the kind of women you insist on wasting time with!” she shrieks.
Ow. That hurts.
I fill a tall glass with water from the fridge, intent on rehydrating. I can’t think straight. I need to mount a solid defense in approximately one minute, judging by the look in Mom’s eyes.
“What about Olivia?” Mom pleads. “She’s been by your side through thick and thin!”
“Yes,” I concede. “Because we are friends. That is how friends are supposed to behave.”
Mom plants her hands on her hips and shows me the determined expression that promises she is not going to drop this conversation so easily. “Friends come and go in life. More often than not, they part ways.”
“Okay…” I have no idea why she is saying this.
“She went to Pitt. You went to CMU.”
“That is correct.”
“You shared an apartment after graduation when you were just starting out.”
Those two years were difficult, but… “Rent is extremely expensive in the city on a starting salary.”
“You live next door to each other!” Mom throws her arms out in exasperation.
I shrug. “There were two condos for rent side-by-side at a price we could not afford to pass up. Also, you know how Liv is. She needs someone to look out for her, and she has not found a reliable man to do that yet.”
“Oh, ho.” Mom chuckles. “Just like you haven’t found a reliable gal yet.”
“What can I say? Times have changed. Dating is brutal in the modern era.” I read this recently on a website and memorized the words. I knew I might need them for exactly this discussion.
Her expression softens. She is going to change tactics. “Oliver, I know you were hurt in high school. You planned and saved and screwed up your courage, but…”
“But another boy asked her first, and she went with him. Game over.”
“You never even told her,” Mom insists, latching onto my arm like physical contact will sway me. “I don’t understand that. Please, at least help me to understand, honey.”
“What was I supposed to say? I am in love with you. Do not choose him. Pick me instead.”
“Yes!” Mom shouts.
I still have not imbibed enough water to tolerate that decibel level. To be clear, no amount of water would make a noise like that more tolerable.
I wrap my mom in a hug. She only wants what is best for me. She has worked so hard to get me where I am today. I kiss the top of her head to ease her disappointment in me. “Olivia and I are friends. That is the only type of relationship we share.”
“Let her go,” Mom begs, her voice muffled against my shirt. “You both need to move on with your lives instead of spinning your wheels.”
I wish I could, but…I am simply not wired that way.
“I will make a deal with you.” I peel her away from me to look her in the eyes, so she knows I understand what I am offering. “If it will make you feel better about me being an actual adult, I shall host Thanksgiving here this year.”
“Oh, Oliver.” She pats my cheek then goes back to her coffee. “You live on takeout and microwaveable meals. You can’t possibly cook Thanksgiving dinner all by yourself!”
“I’ll help him,” a sleep-laced voice offers.
Mom’s gaze flits between me and the woman standing in the doorway who’s wearing nothing but one of my t-shirts. I can’t read her expression, but it might be either angry or pleased. Shocked, maybe?
“No.” Mom sighs, but her tone is final. “We’ll host Thanksgiving at my house as usual. Olivia, I’m sure you have plans with your family to attend to.”
Oh, no. This situation has not occurred in eighteen years, four months, and sixteen days. I almost forgot what it feels like. Mom intends to expel Olivia from my life, whether I like it or not.
I might not have much time left, so I cannot afford to waste any of it.
“No, we will host it here,” I say as calmly as I do not feel.
Mom blinks at me, then turns her disappointment on Liv. “Dear, why don’t you go home, so Oliver and I can have a private conversation?”
Liv looks at me for guidance. She will not abandon me, but she does not like to make problems for me either. Her expression is much easier to read. She is torn and does not know what to do.
That makes two of us.
Tick tock, tick tock the clock inside