Page 30 of Break Points and Face Offs

She scoffs. “He won’t ruin the weekend.”

“You don’t know him. He has a special talent for these things.”

She laughs. It’s nice hearing her laugh like that. Like she doesn’t have a care in the world.

“If you ask me, he sounds kind of lonely.”

“Robots don’t get lonely.”

“Don’t be mean, Will, it doesn’t suit you.”

“See, he brings the worst out in me.”

“You know what I do at school when two kids are fighting?”

I groan. I have a feeling I know where this is going.

“I make them work together. Sounds like that’s what your professor did with you two.”

“Well, it isn’t working.”

“Not yet.”

I pick at a loose thread in my sweats, feeling like a little kid being chastised by his mommy. “Not everyone’s misunderstood, Ma. Some people are just …” I think dicks, but change course because she hates it when I use vulgar language. “Not nice people. And he’s twenty-two-years old. He’s had plenty of time to learn how to be a better person.”

She ignores that part. “Bring him home, I wanna meet him.”

I’m about to say no again when she adds, “It’ll make me happy.”

“Don’t do that.”

“What?” she asks, putting on an OTT innocent tone.

“You know what. It’s emotional blackmail.” I smile.

She laughs. “Stop being dramatic.”

“And that!”

“Will, I’m kidding, honey. Bring him home, don’t bring him home, do whatever you want. I just think you should do it, is all.”

I sigh. “That was just a more subtle form of emotional blackmail.”

“Tell it to your psychiatrist in a few years.”

I laugh. “I’m gonna go. Bye, Ma. Love you.”

“Get some sleep. We love you, too.”

10

PRIESTLEY

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

I’m not even sure I meant it. I thought he’d say no. And he did. But then I got a message later that night saying,

Fine, you can come to Boston. Pack some comfortable clothes and don’t be a dick to my ma or my dad will punch you.