The Hook-up

Chapter 29

Lauren sat down next to her mother at the kitchen table while they folded clothes. "So, when do we get to meet this boy?" her mother asked.

"He won't be home until June, Mom." Lauren answered.

"Oh...he's not? So, are you going to start dating someone else....like..." her mother trailed off.

"Like another one of dad's artists? No, mom. I'm not going to do that. I like him too much." She told her mother.

"Oh. You do? You think you're finally other Justin?" she asked.

"Oh my god! This is why I don't even want him to meet the two of you. That was 3 and a half fucking years ago! I don't even talk to him anymore. Holy fucking shit. We broke up. We weren't right for each other. Are Bruno and I right for each other? I don't know. Do I have to be married by the end of the year? No. Do I have to have kids by next year at this time? No. Quit comparing me to Larissa who got married at 22 and had her first child at 24. We aren't the same person!" Lauren yelled standing up to walk out of the room.

"Lauren. I'm sorry honey. Come back. I want to hear all about him and how wonderful he is." Rose told her.

"Well, he's really not that wonderful." Lauren admitted suddenly feeling the weight of the world and all the things he had done falling on top of her. "Mom....please don't judge me when I tell you what happened." She said sitting down not looking at her mother.

"What's going on? He didn't hurt you did he? Lauren. If he does that to you, you have to leave him. I won't stand for that." Her mother, a former probation officer said to her daughter. "You know I know the right people."

"Mom....he didn't hurt me that way. I mean...he hurt me but it was more inside than anything." Lauren told her mother.

"And you're going to tell me what he did, right?" Rose asked.

"He cheated on me." She said quickly.

"Lauren! What?!" Rose asked.

"It was while he was in Hawaii...and when he was in Arizona earlier....and I just worry that it's going to happen again...' she said sadly.

"Well, is it going to happen?" Rose wondered.

"I don't know...." Lauren answered.

"Are you really going to let him walk all over you? Lauren. You are stronger than that. Tell me that you at least made him wallow in it for a while." Rose complained about her daughter.

"I mean...he went through most of the Christmas holiday with it over his head...is that enough?" Lauren responded.

"Do you think that it was enough time?" her mother asked.

"Probably not." Lauren answered.

"Then why did you do what you did?"

"Well....he was there...and he does this thing with his eyes. And his dimples when he's about to cry. Mom, it's like watching a five year old. I can't help it." Lauren started to whine.

"Your father has a face like that. It might work for a while, but after some time it gets old and doesn't work. " her mother told her about what her father did when they just started dating and how intriguing it was.

"He does that." Lauren said.

"Yeah. So, just be careful." Rose told her standing up taking her clothes away with her. "And remember I'm here if he pulls his shit again."