“The perfect kiss.”
“The perfect everything. You just need balance.”
From the look in his eyes, Ryder wanted to kiss me, but I think we both knew the timing couldn’t be worse. The very opposition to my social life pulled me home.
Laughter and chatter drifted from our friends.
I sighed. “We should probably get going. I’ll fill Mason in. He can explain to everyone else.”
“Yeah. I’ll let Chris know I’m leaving, then meet you upstairs to help with your bag.”
We broke apart and I motioned Mason to follow me to the patio.
“What’s up?” he asked. His eyes were glassy and lips red like they tended to get when he drank a lot.
“My mom is in the hospital. She’s okay, but Grandma is still visiting my great-aunt Sarah. So I have to drive back tonight to be with Mom.”
“Yeah, okay. We can—”
“Ryder is driving me.”
“Oh.”
“He offered, and, anyway, you should stay and enjoy yourself. This is your spring break too. I don’t want to ruin it.”
“I really wouldn’t mind.”
“I know, and thank you. But you stay and have fun, okay? I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Yeah. Okay.” He was hard to read due to his drinking. His reactions seemed off, so either he was too drunk to comprehend or was upset but didn’t want to argue about it.
With a quick hug, I said goodbye and hurried upstairs.
Chapter Eighteen
We’d driven the three hours straight and arrived in town just after midnight. At the hospital, we discovered Mom had dropped a kitchen knife, cutting her leg, freaked when it wouldn’t stop bleeding, driven herself—drunk—to the hospital and, twelve stitches later, was fine.
She and I drove in her car, while Ryder followed us in his. It was reminiscent of the first time he’d met her, but thanks to a few hours’ sleep and a bag of IV fluids, she’d managed to sober up a bit.
“The knife slipped.” Her words cut through the silence in the car. “It wasn’t because I’d been drinking. My hands were wet from cooking. It just slipped.”
“Okay.” We both knew the truth. I didn’t care to argue.
“I’d only had a few glasses of wine,” she added.
I exited the highway and entered Grandma’s subdivision.
“It could happen to anyone.” Mom’s tone had changed. Her defensiveness morphed to anger.
Internally, I cringed. Drunk, sober. It didn’t matter. She was looking for an argument.
“College sure has brought out your snotty side.”
“I didn’t say anything.” I heard the hurt in my own voice.
“Exactly. You just sit there, judging me. Thinking you’re better. Perfect little princess. I sacrificed a lot for you. Remember that.”
We pulled into the driveway and I fought back tears. “We’ve all made sacrifices.” I opened the door and hopped out.
“What’s that supposed—”
I shut the door as Ryder pulled in beside Mom’s car.
Mom opened her door and rushed around to confront me. “What exactly have you sacrificed?” She crossed her arms and glared.
Ryder paused by his car and stared at us.
I couldn’t do this in front of him again, so instead I shook my head and brushed past Mom. I unlocked the front door and turned to her.
“I want to know, Brinley.” She said my name as if each letter tasted more bitter than the one before. “What exactly have you sacrificed?”
A life? A mother? Happiness? Security? Where did I begin? “Honestly, Mom, I truly hope you know the answer to that question, because I’d like to think it hasn’t all been in vain.”
Her expression turned wounded but I didn’t cave. I offered no apologies, instead I motioned for Ryder to follow me and headed inside the house.
By the time I made it to my room, the front door closed. A weight lifted from my shoulders. I didn’t feel like dragging her in from the street, but wasn’t sure how stubborn she planned to be tonight.
“You okay?” Ryder asked.
I nodded, though I wasn’t. I peeked into the hallway. Mom’s bedroom door was now closed. “You don’t have to stay here if you don’t want, but I need to stay the night just to be sure Mom’s okay. Grandma will be home tomorrow. I can leave then, knowing she’s on her way.”
“If you don’t mind, I’ll stay with you.”
“Of course I don’t. I’m going to grab my suitcase from the car.”
“I’ll get them.”
When Ryder stepped out, I slipped down the hall and pressed my ear to Mom’s door. Light snoring drifted from the other side. Relieved, I returned to my room.