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“How. Often. Do. You. Lift?” Each word is punctuated through her locked jaw.
“Every day.”
Her round eyes make me laugh, and the action makes my arm slip a little. Not enough for her to win, but it gives her a false burst of confidence. She gives a piratical ha ha and turns her body so our arms are no longer in a straight line. In fact, she keeps traveling until she is beside me. She’s on her side now, pulling with all her weight. I’m laughing so hard I can barely breathe. Her laugh intermingles with mine, along with some loud growling. My arm is getting tired, but it’s the laughing that’s my kryptonite.
I’ve got to end this, or I might actually have to attend the Christmas party, and then no one will believe me when I say we aren’t dating. Which right now doesn’t seem as terrible as I’ve been painting it all these years, but I know I’ll regret it later. And I do need my mom to move to the city.
Brie’s foot comes up and meets my side. What I lack in flexibility, Brie has in spades. Her bare foot digs into my side. I let out an unmanly squeal. It tickles. Bad. I think I would rather drown or be set on fire than die by tickling.
Time to finish this.
I start to lift her upper body off the ground and the tickling is replaced with her shrieks. “No! No! You can’t win!”
Right before my move is finished, the front door swings open. I look over and see my mom standing there, holding a few bags in her good arm.
I don’t know who is more shocked, me or her. Regardless, the wrestling comes to a sudden halt. Brie’s lying next to me on the floor, her leg over my back and her arms entangled in mine. In about two seconds flat, she springs off of me and into a sitting position. I roll up a little slower.
“What on earth is going on over here?” My mom marches into the room, her mouth gaping.
“We were arm wrestling,” I explain.
“Obviously. I could hear you two from the sidewalk!” She sets down her bags and folds her arms. “Haven’t you learned you can’t win over girls this way? Brie, did he try to make a bet with you?” Before either of us can say anything, she says, “Oh, Rock. Really?”
Wow. My mom had me.
“I’m glad I showed up when I did. Honestly, taking advantage of Brie like that. Never mind. I brought you some things to make it more comfortable over here. I have more in the car.”
“I’ll help you grab them.” Brie jumps up and slips on her boots. Behind my mom, Brie makes a face. A we are in so much troubleface. I almost laugh at the way she dashes through the door but squash it down when I glance at my mom. She’s wearing her no-nonsense look, and I don’t want to stress her out. I climb to my feet and put my arm around Mom’s shoulders.
“Thanks for thinking about me. You didn’t have to.”
She nods. “You’re right. You could have come and stayed with me on the farm.”
I wince. “Mom, you know how I feel.” The farm represents all the reasons I left.
“I know. But I guess if you were with me, you wouldn’t get to stay next door to your girlfriend and throw Chinese food everywhere. You’ll have to borrow Brie’s vacuum.”
“Mom, I told you already. We aren’t dating.” I look around and see the mess we’ve made. Somehow, we knocked over the rest of Brie’s rice. She’s not going to be happy.
“I’m not stupid. I have eyes.” Mom picks up the bags again and carries them into my room. I forget our argument long enough to try to take them from her, but she orders me to bring in more things from the car instead. I meekly obey because I realize how hard it is for her when I try to take away her independence. I want to prove to her that she can still have freedom if she lives with me.
I pass Brie in the doorway as she carries in two folding chairs. Maybethiswoman will actually let me help her. I reach out to take them, but Brie steps back. “Don’t worry, I’ve got this. I’m a champion arm wrestler.”
“What?”
She lowers her voice. “Your ripped biceps aren’t everything.”
I lower my voice too. “Ripped? Were you admiring them?” Surprisingly, my mom hasn’t ruined my playful mood.
“Long enough to show them who’s boss. I won fair and square. Have fun with the Hollands.” Her grin sends chills down my back. I trace back to the moment my mom walked in. Snap! She’s right. Brie tapped my hand to the ground before jumping up. I’d been too distracted to realize it.
I can’t believe I’m going to the Hollands’ Christmas party. Worse, I’m back to convincing my mom to leave here all by myself. And obviously it’s going well for me. She’s clearly doing her best to make me an official Bearwood resident.
I watch Brie set up the chairs and position them like she’s setting up home. It’s not a bad picture. I force myself to turn away. Is it me or is my simple trip here becoming complicated?
Chapter 11
Brie
