Don't Hate the Player...Hate the Game(71)

Mom nodded. “It was right after your father told me he didn’t love me, and he wasn’t going to marry me.”

“Seriously?”

“He’d strung me along for a few months after I told him I was pregnant. Then he finally leveled with me. I was crying so hard and all the sudden I felt you.” Tears welled in Mom’s eyes, and she smiled. “It was like you were telling me in your own little way that you’d always be here for me—no matter what happened.”

Wow, I was kinda overwhelmed. “Mom…”

She waved me away with her hand. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I’m on hormone overload right now.”

“Well, that’s true, but I wanted to say-” I drew in a deep breath. “I wanted to say thanks.”

Mom’s eyebrows furrowed together. “For what?”

“You know—for having me and for always loving me, no matter what.”

My declaration sent Mom’s hormones skyrocketing. She was laughing and crying at the same time as she pulled me into her arms. “How did I get such a wonderful son?”

I fought the urge to argue with her that deep down I was a real shit. A real screwed up mess and a half-assed version of a man. But I kept my mouth shut.

Mom patted my back. “All right, I think that’s enough on the shows of affection. We need to get to bed.”

After we walked back into the living room, Mom eyed Maddie’s damp cami and underwear. “Let me get something to put on her. She’d die of mortification to wake up in the morning half-naked.” She turned and headed down the hall to her bedroom.

I sat down on the couch next to Maddie, watching her sleep. Her hair was still wet from swimming. As I pushed a stray strand away from her face, my heart thudded in my chest.

Mom came back with a gown. She gave me a look. “Even though you’ve practically seen everything, you can have the decency to turn your back.”

“Well, I haven’t gotten to see everything,” I countered, shooting Mom a sly smile.

She rolled her eyes. “God, what a typical man thing to say.” She motioned to Maddie. “You can pull her up for me before you turn around.”

“If you insist,” I replied. I peeled back the blanket and gently grabbed Maddie’s shoulder’s pulling her forward. Once Mom held Maddie’s shoulders, I turned my head, so I wouldn’t get a glimpse at her bare br**sts after Mom pulled off the cami. At the sound of the fabric smacking to the floor, I jumped. I waited until I knew Mom had pulled the pale blue gown over Maddie’s head. Once she was clothed, I eased Maddie back down on the couch and covered her up. She didn’t stir once.

Mom started for the stairs but then stopped. “Coming?”

I shook my head. “I want to stay downstairs with her in case she wakes up in a strange place and freaks out.”

She gave me a skeptical look, and I rolled her eyes. “Oh come on, Mom! Give me a little credit that I’m not going to molest a passed out girl!”

Mom nodded. “All right. Goodnight then. Come and get me if you need anything.”

“Okay.”

I sat listening to Maddie’s small snores for what felt like an eternity. Each time I would almost doze off, my mind would begin whirling again, and I would wake up. I’d probably been asleep maybe an hour when I snapped wide awake. There was something I needed to do, so I grabbed my keys and headed for the door.

It was after four am when I pulled into Rolling Gardens. I’d never been to a cemetery at night before. I guess I had this freaky image of skeletons or zombies busting out of graves doing highly choreographed dance moves like in Michael Jackson’s Thriller. I was relieved when I found everything quiet as the dead, no pun intended. I grabbed my flashlight out of the dashboard and started the walk towards mausoleum.

Once I reached the bronze plaque baring Jake’s name, I cleared my throat. “Hey, man,” I said, my voice echoing a little off the marble walls. “Yeah, I realize you’re probably wondering what’s gotten my ass out at this time of night, least of all what I’m doing here in the cemetery talking to your ashes.”

Kicking at a blade of grass with my toe, I added, “I’m kinda wondering the same thing myself. But let me tell you something buddy, things have been pretty f**ked up since you died. I mean, there’s all this drama shit going on. Yeah, I know—when is there not drama, but seriously, you left one more freakin’ mess when you blew out of here.” I glanced up at the bronze plaque as a chill went over me. I shuddered and shook my head. “Sorry dude about that last line.”

I sat down on the bench bearing his name. “Listen, man, I just wanna say I’m sorry about the whole Presley thing. I would’ve never made out with her and almost gotten off had I known she was…pregnant.” Another shudder ricocheted through my body. “And what’s up with that? You found out that weekend, and you couldn’t even call me and tell me what was going on? That was some epic news man—shit that your best friend deserved to know! Best friends are supposed to talk to each other—tell each other about things. Not leave freakin’ cryptic text messages and shit!”

With my blood pumping, I hopped off the bench. “And there’s one more thing, and that’s Maddie!” I cried, my voice rising a little. “I mean, what the hell was that all about? You loved her, you dickhead, didn’t you?”