nothing is temporary

six | lovesick

I had ended up staying the night at Jack's house. Trish looked me up and down that afternoon.

"I'd say this looks like the walk of shame, but I don't think I've ever seen someone look so good during it, so I don't know what to call this." She said as Jack kissed me goodbye and drove away.

I grinned at her. "No shame here, Aunt Trish. You on the other hand may want to adjust your robe before you flash the boardwalk." I winked.

She looked down in shock, turned around, and quickly retied. "You saved me girl."

We went in the house and she handed me a plate of chicken nuggets at the counter.

"Your mama has been calling all morning." Aunt Trish said with a huff. "Interrupted my beauty sleep! You know I don't get up until AT LEAST ten o'clock? She started at 7:30! She's just like how our father was, I'll tell you what."

"Monarchs! Good morning!" Topher said, entering the kitchen from the back sliding door.

"Trish, always a pleasure. A coffee for you with something extra special to start your day." Topher winked and handed me an iced coffee and a donut from down the boardwalk.

"Better be something strong, Chrissie." Trish chuckled.

"Only the best for my favorite of my dads ex girlfriends." He smiled, discreetly showing a flask in his back pocket. It was noon.

"You're too kind." She waved her hand in the air. The fact that she dated Topher's dad doesn't surprise me.

"Jacky told me what happened last night... are you okay?" He said, sitting up on the counter beside me.

"I'm fine. But that brings me back to what we were talking about, Aunt Trish. If my mom calls, don't answer, decline, let it ring, hell, block her number. I don't care. I don't want to hear from her."

Aunt Trish furrowed her eyebrows at me. The wrinkles she's gotten from an immense amount of sun exposure became present on her forehead. "What happened babydoll?"

"She told Ryan to come get me. He showed up at Twisted Timmy's last night, demanding I get in his car and drive back to Boston with him."

Aunt Trish dropped her jaw. She knows the whole story about Ryan.

"I don't quite like that boy, Cass-a-frass." Aunt Trish pulled me to the side to whisper. It was my sophomore year, and Ryan was over to meet some of my extended family for Christmas. It was Aunt Trish's first Christmas here in a decade.

"Don't even start with me, Aunt Trish." I said. How dare she talk about Ryan like that to me?

"Cass... the way he talks to you... like a dog..."

"Enough! You're not exactly the dating expert, Trish, so stay out of my relationship and I won't talk about all of yours." I said before storming away.

"Aunt Trish, I'm sorry." I said abruptly.

"For what honey?" She said, concerned.

"Sophomore year. You tried to talk to me about Ryan and I shut you down. I was being a brat. I'm so sorry I talked to you like that."

She smiled and wrapped me in a hug. "That's what happens when teenagers are in love, baby. No one else is right but them. They wouldn't be able to see a red flag if they were a bull themselves."

"Hellllloooooo!" Mia sang as she walked through the back door. "I'm here to play with puppies. And see Cass, of course." She giggled. "Hi Trish!"

"Hi baby." Aunt Trish loves Mia. They're a lot alike in a lot of ways.