AllFreeNovel
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There’s a chill in the air that makes us fold our arms for warmth. “I wonder if we’ll get snow this year.”
It’s not like her to stall. I mutter, “We didn’t have much last year. But it’s so unpredictable.”
Her almond brown eyes lock onto mine. They’re what I inherited from her. The only things. “Have you slept with Asher, honey?”
I smooth my hair self-consciously, glancing away to answer, “Not yet.”
“Would he be your first?”
I cut a surprised glance to find her just as uncomfortable as I am. I’m twenty-two. Does she really think I’m still a virgin. Zoe is, but Zoe is not of this planet. We all know that. “No, he wouldn’t be my first, Mom.”
Her eyebrows go up as she struggles with her reaction. “You never told me.”
“Did Max and Caden tell you?”
“No, but Lexi did, and girls are different.”
“Why?”
Mom runs her hand down my arm. “Because we’re women. I’m your mom, and I want to know when my girls have the biggest experiences of their lives. Max and Caden told your father, but they never would’ve told me. I’m sure some sons tell their mothers, but can you imagine them coming to me instead of your dad?”
I exhale, feeling bad about being this argumentative today. It’s covering up what I’m not telling. That’s my fault. They shouldn’t pay for this. “Mom?”
“Yes?”
I stare at her a second and remember her face when her curly red hair was long and wild. It doesn’t touch her shoulders now, and there are wrinkles where there were none. It’s the same with Dad, these little changes have shown up as if overnight. They’re growing older. Everyone is. Grandpa and Grandma are looking less robust, for lack of a better word considering how powerful their presences have always been. Grams is a whisper of a woman.
Time keeps passing.
None of us can stop it.
Do I want to spend it away from the people I love most?
Instead of telling her about the tugging news I came with, I confess an honest, “I wish I would’ve told you about my first time. Even if there wasn’t much to say.”
She scrunches her nose just like Lexi always does. “Was it that bad?”
“I’ve forgotten.”
“Ooooh! That bad? Oh no!”
Smiling, I give her a hug, “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too, Sammy. I’m here whenever you need me. So is your father. If you’re falling in love, we are both happy for you.” At my lifted eyebrow, Mom shrugs, “Give him time. He’s always had a soft spot for Logan.”
I roll my eyes and head for the Subaru. “Everyone needs to get over this whole me-and-Logan thing!”
“Your sister home tonight?” Mom asks, referring to our shared vehicle being at my disposal when it’s normally the other way around.
Walking backwards a couple steps I shrug, “Yeah, she went to bed early. Bye!”
And she did go to bed early.
Just not to hers.
