Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
“Well, I’d better get into this game,” he says, giving Zak and me the wind up, which has Zak making a firm face and giving Joey a little salute; he reminds him that he meant what he said.
“Tell me everything that’s wrong with it, Joey. Not just how much you like it,” Zak says. “Or how great you are at it,” he adds, laughing, making Joey laugh too.
“And leave my Mom to me, okay, Joey?” I ask him. “I’ll talk to her. Explain things as best I can,” I say, sounding like someone who actually knows what they’re doing too. Which I kind of do, kind of don’t right now.
At least where my mom’s concerned.
But Joey’s already zoning out, I can tell. He signs off in an absent tone—the sounds of the game he’s been assigned to test are already drowning him out over the speaker.
I stare at my phone in silence once he hangs up, wishing my mom could be so understanding of everything.
Wishing I didn’t have to deal with her, and what I know is going to be a different kind of argument once she finds out I’m not just working for Zak, but working under him at the same time, literally.
“You know how I handle things I don’t want to deal with?” Zak asks after studying me in silence for a while.
I shake my head silently, not meaning to be so melodramatic, but Zak really doesn’t know just how crazy my mom can get.
“I deal with them one after the other,” Zak says encouragingly. “If it’s emails or phone calls, I just reply to them all in order until they’re done. Otherwise…,” he trails off with a knowing look.
Reminding me what I already know and not wanting this awkward feeling to haunt either of us on our special day.
And our special night. If I'm lucky enough, tonight and every other night after that.
There aren’t as many messages from my mom as I thought. More from Joey and his mom than anything else, which is pretty normal, really.
And seeing only one voice message from her, I listen to it as I mull over what Zak’s just said.
“…I’m guessing you went ahead and did your own thing anyway, Jade.” Her message starts. She sounds angry but also like someone who’s just tired of always trying to tell a twenty-year-old what to do.
“Anyway, I’m mad about it, but I’m also worried. Just send me a message so I know you’re safe, okay? Love you…” she says, trailing off before hanging up.
Hearing Joey and then my mom’s voice makes me so sad I start to cry all over again.
Zak’s supportive and rubs my back. Holding me and just letting me get it all out, dealing with things in my own way before he even says anything.
“It’s early still,” Zak remarks. “You can call or message her later,” he says, but his advice from just before is still ringing in my ears.
And sniffing back the last of my tears, I explain I’m going to call her.
Zak smiles and whispers how proud of me he is before he slides out of bed, heading for the bathroom.
I reach out for him as he moves, but I know he’s right. I need to make this call, and apart from needing to make it right now, I need to do it alone.
I start by reminding her I got the job, my dream job in game programming, which means more to me than doing what I’m told in this case.
My mom sounds surprisingly calm. Even when I let her know I won’t be coming home. Not just yet.
“Mr. Templeton runs things out of Philadelphia,” I explain, “And there’s a lot to go over, so he wants me there, for a while at least, I guess.”
“You’re just going to up and leave?” she asks, not trying to disguise the emotion in her voice.
“I guess you’re old enough to make your own decisions. I feel stupid grounding you now,” she sighs after a long pause. “I was just tired, sweetie. Just so tired.”
I feel my lip quiver, but I try and keep it together. “It’s just such a great opportunity, Mom. Listen. I’ve got to go, but I’ll call you once I’m there. Maybe arrange for some things to be sent over, okay?” I ask her.
“Sure,” she says after another long pause. “It sounds better for you than ending up like your old mom…working for peanuts at a shipping company,” she sighs.
Everything I know she wants to say has run through my mind a thousand times. But damn. I didn’t expect her to be so laid back about it. Especially after the scolding she gave me last night.
“Alright, I’ll call ya soon,” I chime.
“I love you, Jade,” Mom says before hanging up.
Making me feel a ton of emotions thrown into the already full load of them I’m carrying right now.