Messy Love(11)

“Wait, Marissa!’’ My mother called out before Marissa could take another step. She pulled away from me and got closer to her daughter. I swore I felt a damn tickle of apprehension running down my back when she got away from me to go to this girl. It’s insane. I was her son. This chick wasn’t my mom’s family. “Do you have my phone number if you ever have other questions?’’

Marissa faced my mother again, but her eyes locked with mine briefly and she recoiled slightly. “Hm… Yes, I have it. Thank you, Lydia. I… I don’t know when I’ll—’’

“You don’t have to say anything. Don’t worry. I just… I just want you to know that if you want to reach me, I’d be happy to answer.’’

She nodded, and this time when she turned around and walked out of the house, nobody stopped her. As soon as she disappeared from the kitchen, my eyes landed on my mother, and I saw her shoulders starting to shake slightly as her breathing became more uneven.

“Mom?’’ I asked tentatively. I didn’t know how to deal with women crying. I didn’t know what to do when my mother, the woman who’s taken me and gave me a life, a chance, and love, was feeling emotional.

“I… I need to call your father. I trust you two not to raid the fridge just yet.’’

“Don’t you worry. I can’t picture myself putting food in my mouth right now,’’ Ralph said, this time faking a cheerful tone for my mother’s benefit.

She didn’t notice, and walked away, making sure to keep her face away from me. I knew what I’d find, though. Tears.

“Hey man, you okay?’’

I fucking didn’t know. I could tell myself whatever I wanted and be relieved that Marissa left the house, but I’d be an idiot not to realize that her visit was going to fucking change things.

“This chick is going to be trouble, Ralph,’’ I said somberly, my voice rumbling.

He hit me in the back and leaned against the kitchen island next to me. “If it’s the naked kind of trouble I’d be so damn happy to take your place, man.’’

“Can’t you take anything seriously?’’ I glared at him, and when he shrugged unapologetically, I had to take a deep breath before I snapped at him.

“Maybe your head is too far up your ass, but I’m telling you, Wyatt, this girl? She’s to take seriously. I’d seriously like to fuck her.’’

I growled at him and punched him hard in his shoulder. I found no satisfaction in his yelp and complaints.





MARISSA


“If you don’t get your head on straight I won’t let you get anywhere close to the machine, girl,’’ Kam warned me as I stared at nothing in particular when I was supposedly dusting the display shelf where clients could find all the catalogs.

I glanced back at my mentor and found him looking more concerned than annoyed as I would have pictured him to be. Kam was usually tough, and while we got along well, and I now considered him a friend, he wasn’t to be messed with when it came to his shop and his reputation as a tattoo artist, which I got.

I sighed and shook my head to try and futilely chase away the thoughts ever present since I had met my birth mother four days ago. I’ve been weird with everybody, and now that I was back at work after my one week vacation it’s obvious I was nowhere near as fine as I kept telling my brother, parents, and friends.

“Sorry, Kam. I—‘’

“Don’t give me a bullshit excuse either, girl.’’ He rounded the front desk and stalked toward me. Kam was about an inch taller than me, and he’s never really worried me, even when he glared at me with his brown eyes that made most people wary around him. But today, I was worried. Not about him, but about myself. I couldn’t afford to mess my apprenticeship, not when I was so close to finishing it.

When he got to me, he snatched the duster from my hand and threw it on the front desk. “I know you. There’s something on your mind, and you’re not really here. If you want to work today, you need to get it out of your head.’’ He put his hands on my shoulders. “What’s wrong?’’

“I met my birth mother a few days ago,’’ I said quietly. Kam knew I was adopted since he met Jameson. Considering I looked nothing like I had Latino blood, he questioned me. I didn’t mind telling him. It’s no secret, and I genuinely liked Kam. It’s also nice to have a friend who was a few years older. He could be of good advice when needed be.

“Oh shit. How did it go?’’ he asked and pulled away, sitting on the edge of the front desk.

“Better than expected with her. But…’’ I shrugged. “It’s weird to see all these pictures of her happy family on her walls, to realize she adopted someone and I look so much like her.’’

“Wow, it’s… I'm sorry. I can see why your mind isn’t fully here. If you need a day off—.''

“Oh no. Believe me, if I have today off I’m going to replay everything in my head again, and I’m tired of it. Honestly, I’d rather not relive my encounter with her adopted son. He’s a real-life asshole.’’

Kam cringed. “How old is he? If he’s a teenager, it’s never a good period to face someone new.’’