Electric Love (USC Series Book #3)

chapter three

ELECTRIC LOVE
~ ~ ~
TYSON

On a day like today, it is hard to think of bad thoughts. The sun is shining, and the temperature in the air is bearable in comparison to the Californian summer that is just retreating, the slight breeze is ruffling the leaves in the trees, the epitome of tranquility. It is perfectly picturesque. I love summer; it comes with growing up in a state with lots of beaches to spend your summer days. But there is something about the transition between summer and fall that I love.

However, my mood turns sour at the incessant buzzing coming from my pocket. None of my friends ever bother to call me so that could only leave one person.

"Mother dearest, haven't heard from you in a while," I answer without even having to check the caller ID. With much restraint, I try to be as chipper as possible to not give away my utter dismay with her phone call.

"I have a very full schedule, as you can imagine, Tyson." She clears her throat, the muffled sound of shuffling papers coming from the other end of the line. "I presume you received my email."

"And what an email that was, Mother," I say, whistling in faux disbelief and shaking my head despite her not being able to see me.

The email I received from my mother at the beginning of summer was a shock, but it wasn't entirely unexpected. My parents' marriage had been on the rocks for a while, so I knew a divorce was in their future. The key question was just a matter of when. Both of my parents are known to be stubborn motherfuckers. I don't know which of the two bit the bullet first and caused the divorce to ensue, but I think it is a blessing in disguise. They haven't loved each other in a long time.

Receiving the news in an email was a major shock. A simple text message would've been adequate, but nope. That would be too much effort for Athena Hart. Instead, an email from her work account was perfect.

"Don't be smart with me," my mother says, her tone exasperated and blunt. She has never been one for pleasantries, especially with me. Even after almost twenty-two years of life on this earth, her plain disinterest in me still hurts sometimes. "I do have something else to ask you."

I refrain from rolling my eyes, this terse conversation putting a damper on my mood already. "I am assuming that this request was not email-worthy if it's the sole reason you are calling your only son today."

My mother huffs out an aggravated sigh and takes a long pause, hopefully, to rack through her thoughts and hang up this phone. Against my best wishes, she says, "We need your presence in Rhode Island. You are very well aware of how large this house is and your father and I cannot possibly clear it out in a timely manner. We need an extra set of hands."

I almost choke on my laughter. This is absurd. She can't be serious, can she? "You're joking, right?"

Only when her side of the phone goes deathly still do I realize she's as serious as a heart attack. That is when my irritation comes to a head, too. "Mom, I have just started my senior year of college and my soccer season is about to begin. I can't possibly fly across the country just to help you pack up a house," I explain.

No explanation will suffice in her eyes, but she has to know that the world doesn't fucking revolve around her. I can't drop everything just because she needs my assistance.

"It wasn't a question, Tyson."

I scoff, utterly vexed by what I am hearing. My mother has never been too aware of others and I can add this to the long list of evidence for that. "Well, I am sorry, but you are gonna have to find somebody else. My schedule is full with everything that is already happening and flying to Rhode Island does not fit in my agenda. Sorry, not sorry."