“I know.” Of all the people in the house, I understood what it meant to be afraid of a good thing. When you were so used to it disappearing, suddenly having everything you ever wanted felt like one big lie. But we were going to show her it was real, and the truth. “Ready to get your ass kicked at pool?”

She rolled her eyes. “In your dreams.”

Following her out of the room, I admired the view, and I agreed with her.

I felt perfect.

Chapter 31

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

________

ESME

My phone buzzed on the bedside table, and I almost ignored it when I saw mom’s name, but I didn’t. Something caught my eye.

Please call me, Esme. Please.

With a sigh, I dialed her number, putting it on speaker.

“Esme?”

“Hi, Mom.”

She took a hitching breath, and I covered my face with my hands at the shame which hit me. “I thought you weren’t going to speak to me anymore.”

“Of course not. I just needed some time. And I didn’t want to talk to you about the photo.”

“Yes, well, I may not agree with what you’re doing, but I understand it’s what you feel you need to do. You’re an adult, you can make your own choices.”

“You’re right,” I said with a sigh. “And I’m not making those choices to hurt you.”

“I know. And I want to try. Can you bring your… I’m not sure what to call them, over for dinner tomorrow?”

Tomorrow would work perfectly in the schedule, as far as things went. But I wasn’t going to sign them up to meet my mother without at least talking to them first. “I’ll ask them, but I’m sure it will be fine.”

“Excellent. I’m looking forward to it.”

“You are?”

She sighed. “Esme, I’m trying. Do I love that you’re being courted by a pack of tattoo artists? No. I don’t like it any more than I liked Eva being courted by a rock band. But there wasn’t much I could do about it then, and it seems like this is the same. So I will meet them, but it’s all I can promise.”

Pressing my lips together, I tried not to beg or ask for more. I’d already hurt her. Without dad, Eva and I were all Mom had left, and she felt like she was losing us. Change was hard for her, and though the change was necessary, it didn’t make it easy.

“I’ll ask them about dinner and text you.”

“Thank you. Hopefully I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The line went dead and I groaned. “What’s the matter?” Avery asked. He stood in the doorway to my bedroom, a soda in one hand.

“My mother wants you to come over for dinner tomorrow so she can meet you.”

He shrugged. “Done.”