CHAPTER TEN
Mandy
I stopped by the apartment to shower before dinner. My mom was the kind of woman to always look perfectly put together. The same could be said of my older sister, Kate. She was five years older and completed medical school recently and was working as a surgeon in one of the area’s largest hospitals. She had a fiancé as well, and they were going to get married in six months and likely have a bunch of perfect children.
I braided my hair into a plait over my shoulder and looked at the jeans and conservative green button-up shirt that I chose to wear. It was loose and gauzy and covered everything up the way a girl should dress. Mom never saw the things I chose for work or anything other than dinner, and they weren’t even that bad. She just thought I should dress my age.
What did that even mean?
I slipped on some sandals and headed to the car. It was delivered early this morning, fixed up until the next time something decided to give out. I knew that I could consider the idea of something new down the line, but I’d been through so much with my Callie. I started the engine and made my way to their house on the edge of town. Dad retired from his shop a few years ago and wanted something a bit more private, since Mom only worked three days a week at a doctor’s office.
I pulled into the long driveway and sighed, wondering how this was going to go. I got out and went to knock on the door which was opened by my mother on the phone as she waved me inside. I smiled and passed her, walking into the comfortable to see my dad watching a game. “Hi, Daddy.” I dropped my purse onto the worn brown sectional and sat down, checking out the score of the baseball game. I smiled, thinking about the game tomorrow.
“How’s that new job?” he asked as Mom walked in, going on about Kate and how they both had to work and miss dinner. She perched on the edge of a chair and looked me over, her disappointment obvious in her eyes that matched Kate’s.
“It’s good. The place is great, and the staff is really nice. I am still learning, of course, but I think I’ll do okay.” I smiled at him, pretending not to notice her.
“Do you think they’ll keep you on?” Her voice was cool and curious, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes.
“I am still on probation. It’s just been a week, Mom. Martin is a great boss, though. I am sure he’d help me over going through the entire hiring process again.” That was what I hoped, anyway.
“Just do your best,” her tone was condescending, and anger burned in my chest. I wasn’t in the mood for this after last night and today. Everything seemed to be falling into place for me, even though it wasn’t medical school. “I suppose it is a decent salary but is there room to grow? Your other jobs didn’t offer that.”
“There is, Mom. I am assistant to the finance department, and it’s a big company. They’re doing great,” I said with a sour tone as Dad looked between Mom and I. “Jesus. Do I have to go to goddamn medical school for you to be impressed by anything I do?”
“Mandy!” She chided me as I slumped back against the couch. “Kate did a wonderful service to herself by going to med school. Think of her future!”
“I am not her. I never will be here. I have a job that I like, and I volunteer with kids. That is who I am,” I barked at her as Mom sighed and stood.
“I am going to finish dinner.” Her tone was haughty, and I stared at Dad as he shrugged helplessly.
“You know I don’t put your sister on a pedestal. That’s all your mom,” he said softly, not wanting to start anything more. He did have to live here after all. “I am proud of you, kiddo.”
I know that he was and I tried to relax before we headed into the dining room to eat. I was going to give this another go.
I took my seat in between my parents and sipped a glass of water. I wished it was a shot of liquor, but that wasn’t going to happen.
Mom had fixed a roast chicken with vegetables and fresh rolls. That was one of my favorite meals, but my stomach was in knots over everything. My mother talked about work, and I realized that she wanted to sound like something she wasn’t so much of the time. Overly important. They were middle class, and that was fine.
Kate came back up, and Mom started to talk about her wedding plans. They were planning on a late summer wedding at a local resort on a lake. She could not stop gushing about it. I knew that Mom would be excited to help plan a wedding, but she sounded too into the little details that wouldn’t matter even the day after the ceremony.
Dad seemed to want to steer the conversation away from the wedding, and I gave him a small, grateful smile as he asked what my plans were for the rest of the weekend. I assumed that he was nervous about the cost of everything and sick to death of the subject.
“I was invited to a baseball game tomorrow. The local team,” I offered as he smiled. Dad loved all sports and I knew he’d be into the idea.
“Who are you going with?” Mom asked me as I wondered what to say.
“I met a guy at the office, and he invited me.” I saw the distaste on her face and sighed. “He’s a good guy. I taught his son at tennis camp today.”
“Son? Is he married, Mandy?” Mom asked.
I rolled my eyes. “No, Mom. He’s a single parent and a great one at that. I like them both a lot.” I knew that we were headed toward another fight and Dad wiped his mouth with a napkin.
“How long have you been seeing him?” he asked me as I looked at him. I saw the worry in his face and smiled.
“It is pretty new.” I shrugged. “I haven’t dated in a while, and he’s nice, so why not? You never know where it might go.” I tried to sound casual, but the tension was thick in the air. “I don’t care that he has a son.”
“It can be a very messy situation, Mandy. I think it would be easier to start a family of your own, like your sister. Start fresh,” she suggested as I dropped my fork onto the plate.
“Enough with Kate. Let me live my own life.” I told her as she dropped her napkin and left the table, muttering something about not wanting to watch me make a huge mistake. I helped Dad clean up and took some food home in a container after hugging him goodbye.
“I’ll try to talk to her,” he promised me as I nodded and walked to my car. What a fucking disaster that was.
I drove to my apartment, feeling a big letdown from tonight. I always went over there thinking that this would be the time that Mom saw me for who I was, rather than comparing me to my sister. I loved Kate because she was my big sister but we were different people.
She was much more prim and proper than I was. I’d always been curious and far more athletic than she was, but we both made something of ourselves. Kate was always focused on a future that she chose as a kid. She was happy, but I’d hate being a doctor. I didn’t even love numbers, but I was good at it when a gorgeous man did not distract me.
I walked into my apartment and put the food in the fridge. I thought back to the night before and how much I’d wanted to see Stephen again. I didn’t run around sleeping with men on the first date all the time, but something about him had me breaking my rules.
Did I regret it?
Hell, no. I felt good giving into that raw need that he made me feel. I felt good giving myself to him and feeling so amazing every time that I came. Multiple orgasms were not a part of my life prior to last night. I’d sleep with him again tomorrow night if I had the chance, and I blushed as I wondered what he’d taste like.
I’d always been so shy about things like that in the past, but I knew that I wanted the experience of tasting him. He was the kind of guy that turned me on without even trying, and I was going to enjoy him for as long as I could.
I was tired of being a good girl all the time. I wanted to breathe a little, and I planned to. Consequences be damned.