Chapter Nine
Jennifer collapsed on the bench in the mall. The bags she’d been holding fell to the ground, and she sighed as the weight was lifted off her arms. She’d forgotten what this was like, shopping with her mother. It wasn’t something she was used to, and the little amount of sleep she was able to get just wasn’t enough to keep her going.
“You aren’t quitting yet, are you?” Her mother looked down on her, and Jennifer gave a sheepish smile.
“I just need a little rest.”
The tap of her mother’s impatient foot echoed around them.
“One more shop,” her mother said. “There’s one more place you need to go.”
Jennifer knew it was pointless to even try and resist, although she was finding it hard to believe there was one more store she needed to go to. They had already picked out a few dresses, along with shoes and accessories. She’d even been able to nab a few tops that would work well for the bar, much to her mother’s disapproval.
On the whole, though, things had been fairly pleasant. If she ignored the assholish behavior from yesterday, it was shaping up to be a nice day.
As they trudged through the mall, dread started to fill her. She’d been in this mall about a million times with Candice. The closer they got to the end of the hall, the more she knew this trip was not going to end on a high note.
Maybe if she pretended she didn’t know where they were going, she’d avoid the dark fate ahead of her.
She groaned when her mother stopped outside the lingerie shop.
“No,” Jennifer said firmly.
Her mother turned and frowned. “No, what?”
Jennifer shook her head. “I’m not going in there with you.”
Her mother rolled her eyes, and it was the first time she’d seen her break out of the stodgy role she normally played.
“Oh for God’s sake, Jennifer. It’s just panties.”
Jennifer nearly choked on the laugh that threatened to pop up. Part of her wanted to ask if she’d say it again, so she could use it as her ring tone, but it didn’t seem wise to push things.
Feeling uncomfortable, she stepped into the shop with her mother.
Almost immediately Jennifer was pulled to the most frilly pantie bra set she’d ever seen.
“What size are you now?” her mother asked, holding up the very frilly set.
“Oh no,” she said and stepped back. “No, no, no.”
Jennifer glanced over at the young checker, who shot her a sympathetic look.
Her mother lowered the set to look at her.
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” her mother said and gave her a tight smile. “We all put on a little weight with age.”
Her mouth fell open, and she tried to focus. “Are you calling me fat?”
Her mother frowned. “Of course not,” she said, and placed the set back on the rack. “I’m just stating that gaining weight is something all women struggle with.”
Jennifer stared at her mother, not quite sure where to go with this.
“Don’t look at me like that,” her mother snapped. “Maybe if you spice things up a little, you’ll be able to get back the spark you once had.”
Jennifer crossed her arms and stared hard at the older woman. Her mother shifted under her scrutiny.
“And by spark, do you mean with Charles?”
Silence filled the room. It was clear to Jennifer what her mother was trying to do.
“Maybe.” Her mother stepped forward and lowered her voice. The checker at the counter strained to hear what was being said. “Maybe if you just took his calls.”
Jennifer stepped away, afraid what she might do if she stood too close to the infuriating woman.
“Maybe,” Jennifer said through gritted teeth. “He shouldn’t have thought about breaking up with me. How can you even be on his side in this?”
“I’m not.” Her mother rushed to her. Ignoring Jennifer’s protest, her mother placed a hand on her. “He’s sorry for his part in all this.”
Jennifer snorted. “His part?”
Her mother’s brows knitted in irritation. “Oh, really,” she huffed. “Maybe you should also accept your part as well. It takes two after all.”
Like an arrow, the words pierced her heart. “Mine?” Jennifer could barely get the word out.
“You were so busy with the big job and didn’t even try with some of his simple requests. From what I understand, you weren’t trying at all.”
Jennifer was stunned. Trying to find somewhere to go with the conversation, she searched for the right words that wouldn’t involve stuffing that stupid pink bra set down her mother’s throat.
“Can I help you?” The clerk looked between both women and gave Jennifer a pitying look.
“Yes,” her mother responded. “She would like some new garments.”
The woman nodded and sized up Jennifer. “Why don’t you give us a little time while I set her up?”
Her mother nodded to the clerk. To Jennifer, she gave a stern look that could only be thought of as her ‘don’t mess with me’ face.
“I’ll just be next door looking at a ring that caught my eye,” she said, and handed Jennifer her card. She stopped to give her a hard look. “Get what you need in order to make this right.”
Her cheeks heated as she watched her mother walk out of the shop. She had never been so embarrassed.
“No offense, but your mom makes me almost thankful for my mom,” the clerk said.
The laugh was out before Jennifer could even contain it.
“She has her moments.”
The clerk nodded at the racks. “Come on. Let’s make her eat her words.”
Jennifer grinned. Now that was something she could get behind.
* * *
Eric knew it was her day off, and yet there he was, second day of waiting around for Jennifer to walk through the door.
It was silly. Not only was she mad at him, but her parents were in town. Of course she would choose to spend time with them. Hell, he didn’t even know if she was coming back after what had happened.
He kept going back to the way she looked in front of him, her lips full and just asking for trouble. They had been so close to doing exactly what he’d been thinking about since the moment he met her.
It wasn’t a good idea. Eric knew it wasn’t, and yet he really didn’t care to stop himself. She was what he ached for at night. It was her body he pictured when stroking himself, and when he came, it was her voice that echoed in his ears. Need was too simple a word for what he was feeling, but it was as close as he could get.
It was the only thing that made the pain somewhat bearable.
Looking at the clock for about the millionth time, Eric cursed. Seven. He’d have to make a decision soon.
“You got somewhere you need to be?” Patrick sidled up to him at the bar.
Eric shook his head. He wouldn’t be happy with him going to see Tommy.
He snorted loudly.
“Okay.”
He turned and looked at his friend. It was clear he didn’t believe what he had to say, and Eric couldn’t really blame him. If it was Pat, he wouldn’t believe him either.
Eric scrubbed a hand over his hard stubble. “It’s Tommy,” he said. “He wants me to come to his show.”
Patrick frowned. “That arrogant prick think you want him now?”
“She’s supposed to come,” Eric said quietly, and looked away.
It was stupid. Going on a whim with the hope that he might see her. And if she did go, he couldn’t say he’d be thrilled to see her there surrounded by Tommy and the guys.
“That doesn’t really sound like her,” Patrick said. “You sure he isn’t just saying it so you come back?”
Eric wasn’t sure of anything when it came to Tommy. He’d changed over the years. Grown distant from just about everyone. Crystal was the only one from their group that saw him regularly, and Eric was pretty sure things were just physical.
“I’m not sure of anything anymore,” Eric groaned.
Patrick sighed and turned in his stool. “You have to go,” he said finally. “As much as I think you’re better off avoiding that dick, you can’t just leave her at his mercy.”
Eric glanced over to Crystal. She wouldn’t be happy if she knew Tommy had invited Jennifer.
“She’s visiting her mother tonight,” he said quietly. “I’ll take her when we finish.”
Crystal didn’t talk about her visits with her mother. The Alzheimer’s had come on quickly, and now she was left dealing with the pieces. It wasn’t something she liked talking about, and most of the time, she dealt with it all on her own.
Eric nodded to Pat. Crystal needed his support, even if she didn’t want to admit it to anyone, including herself.
“Go,” Patrick said. He turned and stared at Eric for a moment. “If you don’t go, she’s going to be all alone with them.”
Eric could feel his blood pumping hard in his chest. That couldn’t happen. He wouldn’t let it.
* * *
Jennifer waited for her shrimp pasta to show up as she glanced at her watch for the millionth time. It would be cutting it close if she was going to go see Tommy. Candice said she would meet her there. Jennifer debated just texting that she needed to cancel. She didn’t even know what she would do in a place like that.
Besides, she’d let her mother pick out her outfit. Low-cut black dress to go with the new black panties set she’d gotten. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t really her.
It was the second night in a row where she’d been forced to eat at the crime scene of the end of her relationship.
At first, she thought her parents might be trying to punish her. Like if she relived the same dinner over and over, somehow she’d repent. But that didn’t seem to be the case. Actually, if anything, they seemed happy.
It was creeping her out.
The waiter came by to fill her glass with wine, and she winced. Surely that would kill their good mood. She picked it up, fully expecting the worst.
“It’s a good year, isn’t it, dear?” her mother said.
Jennifer stopped mid-gulp.
She set her glass down and stared at her parents. Her father was missing his usual scowl, and her mother was actually flushed with color.
Jennifer’s mouth fell open as everything clicked into place.
“You invited him, didn’t you?” She stared at her stunned parents.
Her father pressed his lips together, and the scowl reappeared.
“If you would just talk with him,” her mother said quietly.
Jennifer frowned. “I don’t want to talk with him,” she said firmly. “I thought I was making that clear by not answering his calls.”
“You’re being childish, Jennifer,” her father said. “Not answering calls is something children do.”
“What about fucking? Is that something children do?” she nearly shouted.
A hushed murmur floated around the room, and Jennifer knew she’d been a bit loud.
“Young lady,” her father fumed. His face turned red, and she wondered if he might stroke out.
She shook her head. That was enough for her. She rose from her seat.
“Where are you going?” her mother said. Her voice was panicked, and Jennifer wondered what sort of deal she’d made with Charles.
“To a strip club,” Jennifer said, and grabbed her coat and purse.
“Be serious!” her mother said, looking from her father to her. “Charles has something important he wants to talk with you about.”
Jennifer clenched her fists. “I’m not interested.”
She turned and hurried for the door. As she stepped outside, she felt her mother’s hand on her arm.
“This is a big day for you,” she said. Her voice was pinched and hurried.
“No,” Jennifer said quietly. “It’s not.”
Her mother stepped in front of her when she made her way to the sidewalk in order to call a cab.
“Jennifer,” her mother nearly shouted.
She turned and stared at the frazzled woman before her. This was not how her mother normally behaved.
“The ring is amazing,” her mother said, and Jennifer shook her head. This was not how this was supposed to go at all.
“Stop,” Jennifer said, holding up her hand.
“You’ll love it,” her mother continued. “I picked it out. It’s worth a fortune.”
Jennifer felt the world spin. Picked it out?
Earlier at the mall. Her face went red. She hadn’t even seen the signs.
“You picked it out?” she said quietly.
The roads were mostly empty, and her words kicked up into the clear air.
Her mother frowned slightly, clearly confused as to why Jennifer was even mad.
“Well, of course, dear. Someone like Charles is very busy,” she said. “You’ll need to learn how to be more supportive of him.”
Her cheeks flamed hot. More supportive?
“I’ll tell you what, Mother,” Jennifer said, her eye catching an oncoming taxi. Jennifer waved her arm and smiled when the car pulled to the curb. She opened the door and turned. “You seem to be so happy with Charles, so maybe you should marry him.”
Her mother frowned. “That’s ridiculous.”
Jennifer got in and slammed the door. She rolled down the window.
“Not nearly as ridiculous as my mother picking out my engagement ring for my asshole ex-boyfriend.”
She rolled the window up and tapped the seat for the driver to go, after giving the driver the card with the club’s address.
He raised a brow in the mirror. “You sure that’s where you want to go?”
Jennifer nodded but felt the flutter of butterflies in her stomach. Even the cab driver didn’t think she belonged there.
She leaned back in the seat with a sigh. She didn’t even know where to go with what her mother had said or if there even was a place to go with it.
It was bad enough they were trying to push her back together with Charles, let alone picking out her engagement ring to marry the jerk. That was really the life they wanted for her? She couldn’t fathom picking that sort of life for their only daughter.
There was no way she was going to let the crap from earlier ruin her night. She was having fun, even if it killed her.