He's The Boss

2

Three days into my sick leave, Lacey begins threatening to come over and check on me out of concern, and I know I can't hide any longer.

"Do you have enough money for the bus?"

Mom is standing behind me while I'm getting ready. I can't see her reflection in the mirror, but I don't need to. "I'm not taking the bus. There's a kid down the hall who never uses his mountain bike."

"And you're going to steal it?"

"I'm not stealing it. I'm borrowing it. I traded him my iPod for unlimited use until ... until I can get back on my feet."

"A bike?"

"Shoot. I guess that means dresses and skirts are out of the question. Not to mention heels." I pull a few shoeboxes out from my closet. My wardrobe was one of the few things he left untouched, thank God. I guess he either felt they wouldn't fetch enough, or he just couldn't be bothered to carry it all. "Do you think I can get any money for these?"

"Maybe. You could do with a little spring cleaning."

"And now seems as good a time as any."

"But just because that asshole fucked you up, doesn't mean you have to stay fucked up. Do you know what I mean?"

"No."

"You're still not going to ask for help?"

"No."

"What about your friends then? That woman you work with – the one with the big – "

"No, Mom."

"Why not? She can afford it."

"That's just not who I am. And I don't want to ruin the friendship."

"It's just money."

"Oh, please, Mom. Money ruins everything."

"Only when you're not upfront about what goes where and to who."

"Whom."

"Fuck that."

Oddly enough, that makes me smile a little. "It's nice to know you never change, Mom."

"I can say the same thing about you, except it's not a good thing. You left in such a rush, honey, all to be with that man, and now, look what he's done to you."

"He'll get what's coming to him eventually."

"See, I can't understand that kind of thinking. If you were running a business like that, letting your rivals off the hook, you'd be dead in no time."

"But this isn't a business. This is a relationship. Or was."

"Look at where you work. Every relationship, even at is most debased, represents some form of contract."

"Oh, God, Mom, no."

"From now on, you need to start thinking strategically, otherwise, you're going to get hurt."

"As usual, I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Honey, I love you. I fucking love you. I just don't want to see this sort of thing happen again."

"It won't."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because next time, I'll be careful. And next time ... I won't expect so much."

"What are you saying?" she asks, one brow cocked suspiciously.

"I'm saying, I've tried the whole serious relationship thing and it didn't work out. Maybe it's not for me. Maybe it's just not my cup of tea. I'd really like to go back to how it used to be before."