Rayne and Alex

Chapter 22

Alex 

When I walk into Rayne's kitchen, her mom immediately seats me in a chair at their small, glass, square table. The flowers I gave her are neatly placed in the center of it. When Carol starts serving the food, I try to get up to help, but I'm told to stay seated. Every time I make an attempt to help out, she sends me a playful warning glare.

Not after long, we're all sitting together. Rayne sits at my left and her mom sits in front of us. In all of our plates there's some chicken parmesean, mashed potatoes, and vegetables.

"So, Alex, how long have you and Rayne been together?" Carol asks me.

I look to Rayne to make sure I can answer honestly. When she gives me a small nod, I turn back to her mom, "It's been a little over a month."

Carol looks to Rayne and smiles. Rayne sees something in it that I don't and speaks, "Mom-"

"So Rayne tells me you're nineteen," she says.

I nod and try to figure out why Rayne's suddenly tugging on a few strands of hair. I've noticed that she plays with her hair when she's nervous.

"Do you hang out a lot?" Carol asks.

I shrug and shove some chicken into my mouth. When I finish chewing, I respond, "Whenever we both have time, I think."

Her mom nods and grabs some food with her fork, "Have you guys been using protection?"

I cough and choke on the mashed potatoes I'd just put in my mouth. Carol carries on eating as if she hadn't just asked me about my sex life with her daughter. I look at Rayne and watch her groaning with her head in her hands. I smile at her, momentarily forgetting my own embarrassment and wanting to comfort hers. I take my hand and rub her lower back in small circles . This only makes her groan louder and look at her mom.

"Mom, how is this any of your business?" Her question was obviously rhetorical, but her mom still answers.

Carol scoffs and puts her fork down dramatically, "Well I think I should know if being a grandmother is a possibility." She leans and whispers loudly, "You're only seventeen, baby. You and I both know you've been irresponsible in the past. Just remember Darren-"

"Mom!" Rayne interrupts curtly.

I do my best to act like Carol's words didn't hurt me. I know Rayne isn't all innocence and I know she has her past, but I don't particularly enjoy thinking about it. We've never discussed it and, quite frankly, I don't want to. All I know about the past is that whatever happened before has led us to where we are now.

Rayne and her mom stay quiet for the next few minutes. I try my best to eat my food politely and welcome the silence as a way to sort through my thoughts. The small time I've been here has opened my eyes in more ways than one. My mom's words and questions about Rayne's home life come to mind. To me, it seems like the roles of mother and daughter are reversed. Her mom seems to want to be more of a friend to Rayne than a parent.

Eventually Rayne's mom goes on to tell us stories about her life at work. I listen carefully. They're actually pretty interesting. About an hour later, we're all saying our goodbyes and my beautiful girlfriend is walking me out. I won't deny that on the way out, I checked out her ass more than a few times.