One more day until Veronica comes back home. I know a week isn’t a long time, but I feel like we just cemented our relationship before she left. I know there are still more things we can learn about each other, but right before she left I felt like she knew the real me, I knew the real her, and we both were on the same wavelength.

Then we had to hold with boring, elevator music playing in the background. But I plan on picking right back up where we left off. Our next semester is going to be starting soon, and since I’m also working, I want to make sure the last of our free time this summer is ours.

A few days ago, I met up with my dad for lunch. He told me my mom’s upset I haven’t been back over for dinner since Veronica and I were there. So, I’m at the supermarket picking up some garlic bread for dinner, when I call the house.

“Hello?” my mom answers.

“Hey, Ma. Does Dad like the regular garlic bread or the parmesan garlic bread? I can never remember.”

“The regular one. Oh, honey, would you mind picking up something for dessert? I didn’t make any tonight.”

I chuckle as I grab the garlic bread. “That’s a first. Sure, what should I get?”

“You need to tell him, Justine.” I overhear my father in the background.

“Tell me what?” I ask.

“Oh … nothing. Um, walnut brownies.”

“Okay,” I reply, a little confused. “Anything else?”

“Nope, that’s it. See you when you get here, sweetie.”

Before I can say anything else, the phone goes silent. It’s a little weird, but I don’t give it a second thought and check out. The grocery store isn’t far from the house, so I get there quickly, and see a green Kia sitting in the driveway. I don’t recognize the car, but I see both of my parents parked in front of it, so I know they’re home.

Walking through the door, I’m met with the delicious smell of spaghetti. “I’m here. Wow, that smells incredible, Mom,” I call out. “Hey, who’s car is that in the driveway?”

Reaching the kitchen, I stop in my tracks. Lana is leaning against the counter, an embarrassed smile on her face. “It’s my friend’s.”

“What are you doing here?” I ask, setting down the bread and brownies on the counter.

“I invited her,” my mom replies, smiling over the stove.

My eyes narrow and my mouth drops open. “You invited her?”

“Micah, I was just calling in hopes to get in contact with you.”

“I told you not to contact me. What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Micah,” my mom scolds me.

“Mom, you too. Seriously, what the hell is going on?”

My dad walks into the kitchen from the door leading to our backyard. As soon as he walks in his eyes meet mine. “Sorry, son.”

“What the— You guys! What the hell? Lana, why are you here?”

She walks over to me. “Micah, I’m sorry. I just wanted to thank you.”

“Micah, calm down,” my mom says. “She’s been through a lot the last few days.”

My eyes widen, and my jaw drops lower. “You told my mom what happened? Lana, we’re not together. As far as me and my family are concerned, you don’t need to talk to us anymore. Ever. Why can’t you understand that?”

Her voice cracks as if she’s crying, but her eyes are dry. “Please, Micah. I just want a chance. Please, can we just talk and let me explain—”

“What the hell?” I yell out. My dad shakes his head, and I want to feel bad or embarrassed. But I don’t. “Mom! Lana! I don’t understand what is happening. Please, someone, try to explain this to me because this is totally insane.”

“Micah, calm down,” my dad finally speaks up.

“Calm down? Mom,” I point to her, “I get it, okay? You liked her. Lana was nice. We went out for a while. You still have our junior homecoming pictures up on the wall, but it’s over. She cheated on me.”

“Micah, please,” Lana says, her voice cracking again. This time she has tears.

“No. No please.” I look at her. “Seriously? What the hell have you told her that she’s so in love with you? That we were going to get married? That you wanted to have her grandkids? What, Lana?”

“Micah, that’s enough,” my dad says.

“No.” I shake my head. “It’s not enough because I’m over all of this.” I look over at my mom, exasperated. “I don’t understand why you’re not getting it. Maybe it’s because you can’t comprehend how it feels to be cheated on. And that’s great. I love you guys, and I know Dad would never do that, but everyone isn’t like that.” I stare at Lana, burrowing my eyes into hers. “Some people suck. Some people break your trust. Sometimes, the people you think you love, end up hooking up with a guy at a party that you both went to. Together. And sometimes, you somehow find it in your heart to try and forgive them and give them another chance, and they do it again.”

Tears stream down her face but her eyes never break away from mine. “I’m sorry,” she finally eeks out, then brushes by me, and out the front door.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself. Opening them back up, I see my mom in tears. My dad stands next to her, his arm around her as he shakes his head. I stare down at the brownies, an unbelieving chuckle escaping me. Walnut brownies. Lana’s favorite.

Looking back up, I see my mom has her face in my dad’s chest, still crying. “It’ll be okay,” he whispers.

“You guys, why do I feel like the bad guy in this? I don’t get it.”

“Micah, your mom just wants you to be happy.”

“Mom.” I take a step closer, leaning on the counter. “I’m sorry, but you have to realize I am happy. Right now, with Veronica.”

“I know you say that, but I saw the way you and Lana were together.”

I sigh, looking down at the ground. “That’s over. Please. Please understand that I can’t go back to that. I can’t. I was … I was destroyed. Wrecked. You’ll never understand how hurt I was when she did that to me. And then to catch her doing it again? Mom, please, you have to let me deal with this. Deal with it and move on. I’m happier now.”

Tears still cover her cheeks, but she looks over at me and gives me a sympathetic nod.

“I’m gonna go home.”

“No, please, Micah.” My mom wipes her tears, stepping away from my dad. “I’m sorry, but please don’t go. At least stay to eat.”

“No.” I shake my head. “Not tonight. We’ll have dinner another time.”

We stare at each other for a moment, and I still feel like I’m in the wrong for all of this. But it has to stop. And I can’t stay in this house tonight, either. She finally nods, and I turn to leave.