I'm New York City

thirty two

The next morning, Mom was quick to pick me up. I woke up to Aunt Blake saying that breakfast was ready and right before we could start, Mom rang the doorbell.

"Morning my love, how was it?" she asks, kissing my forehead.

"It was good, we had lots of fun," I tell her as she sits down next to me.

I could feel her eyeing Mason down, really curious now on why he was still here. We all started on breakfast, most of us at one table and Ivy and the kids at the other table. Erica sat on the other side of me and we all carried on a good conversation throughout breakfast.

"Erica, how long have you been at Aubrey's?" Mom asks, smiling at her. Erica seemed to be the little sister of the group, she was younger than us, but older than the actual kids.

"I've been going back and forth from our place to hers recently. My parents have been busy with work, but we leave soon anyway to go fly back home," Erica responds.

"Oh, that's sweet! What do your parents do, love?" Mom asks.

"My mom has a small business and my dad's a retired football player, but he helps Mom a lot," she says, making me freeze.

I looked over at Mom who stiffened in her seat. Aunt Blake and Uncle Ryan looked at each other before looking back at my mom.

"W-What team did your father play for?" Mom asks slowly.

"The Kansas City Chiefs! Have you heard of them?" Erica asks, looking at Mom happily.

Mom took a deep breath before putting her fork down. The room got really quiet, other than the kids sitting at the other table, still having little conversations.

After that, I felt like everything was moving in slow motion. Mom excused herself before grabbing Ivy and then me as she quickly said her goodbyes, hurrying us out the door.

"Mom! What's wrong with you, that was so mean!" I exclaimed as we got into the car.

"I don't care, I don't trust her. Isn't it funny how she suddenly got connected to them? The fact that they're here for business and leave their daughter for most of the time?" she continued on.

I didn't know what to say. Erica was just a kid, she doesn't know what's happening and she obviously doesn't know about her dad and my mom dating in the past.

I heard Mom sigh as she slumped in her seat, closing her eyes. I knew the group chat would be blowing up by the time I get home. Everyone around us got silent so quickly and no one budged while it all happened. I probably looked so stupid to Mason.

Why am I even thinking about what Mason thinks of me?!

When we arrived home, Mom was quick to make a phone call and I just knew that it was Dad. I went straight to my room and slumped down onto my bed. I pulled out my phone to see text messages from James. 

"what the heck happened? mom and dad are refusing to talk about it and after you guys left, everyone else went home"

I sighed, not even knowing how to reply to it. I knew that Mom was probably more anxious than anything right now, so I decided to wait to text her back. I knew that her parents obviously knew that Travis and Mom dated before, but finding out he was Erica's Dad shocked us all.

I woke up to Mom rubbing my shoulder. I must have fallen asleep by accident because I didn't see her come in. Mom gave me a soft smile as she started running her fingers through my hair.

"I'm sorry for what happened back there, baby girl," she said. I nodded my head knowing that she had probably panicked.

"Your dad's coming back soon, for the holidays. We'd like it for you and Ivy to be with us the whole time," she went on. 

I was excited for Dad to finally be back home. Even if it was for a short period of time, I really missed him. I knew that I wasn't ready for all of the questions he was going to ask me though. 

All three of us were now cuddled up in Mom and Dad's bed, just watching movies. Mom didn't want to do anything else today especially after what happened this morning and I didn't blame here. She had her arm around me while Ivy was on the other side of her. I leaned closer into her embrace, feeling her kiss my head as she wrapped both arms around me. 

I haven't had any bad thoughts recently, but seeing my mom so vulnerable made it seem like my fault. She wouldn't be acting like this if it wasn't for me. She wouldn't be going through this if it wasn't for me. I don't know why all of this keeps happening to me. I get into trouble without even trying, whether it's the people I'm friends with, random people that have just come into my life, or anything else.

I snapped out of my gaze when Ivy jumped off of the bed, running out of the room. Mom told me that she was going to get snacks. I sighed, staring at the paused screen ahead; not knowing what to feel.

"Are you okay, babe?" Mom asked and I just nodded my head.

"You can tell me anything," she continued, kissing my forehead. 

I just leaned deeper into her embrace, now hiding my face into her chest and felt her softly rub my back as she held me tightly. 

"I've got you," she whispered. 

-

I was sitting in the music room, watching Mom play the piano. I couldn't help but feel jealous at how insanely talented she is. I mean yeah, I can play a couple instruments, but not like Mom. I don't have the passion and drive that she has. She was playing random tunes, trying to test out different melodies while I texted my friends. Lily told me that Mason's face dropped when I had left that day. I tried to stop myself from blushing, but I couldn't help it.

"What're you smiling about?" Mom asked, smirking at me from where she was sitting.

I shook my head, "Nothing, just talking to Lily," I replied.

My parents didn't allow us to have social media anymore after Ivy kept writing hate comments on other celebrities pages. Mom and Dad told me I could create a private account for just family and friends, but that seemed like a lot already. 

Aubrey wanted to add Mason into the group chat, but I wasn't sure on how I felt. He would be the first boy in this chat. I wondered why he stuck around our group so much. At first I thought he was gay, but after thinking about it, he's really just shy and doesn't have many friends from school since he just transferred there. 

"Sage! Come join my game, someone left and we need another person!" Ivy yelled, from the doorway.

"No, go away," I said, shooing her away. 

"Hey, be nice to your sister. Ivy, time to get off, you've had enough screen time," Mom said making me chuckle as Ivy stomped away.

I froze when I received a message from an unknown number in our group chat. It was Mason. I quickly got up from my spot, heading out the door.

"Where are you going?" Mom asked.

"My room," I said, beginning to walk faster towards my bedroom.

I shut my door, diving into my bed and got comfortable under my covers. Mason was greeting everyone in the group chat, but I frowned when he didn't mention my name, yet.

"Which one is Sage?"

My eyes went wide.

"i'm sage!" I quickly replied.

I went ahead added his number into my phone. Right as I was gonna go back into the group chat, I saw that he had texted me individually.