Harassenger: Backseat Admirer ✔️

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-One

"Thank you so much for signing up with us." Mom and I signed up yet another guy to the gym. Although he was insulting when he mentioned to us how he hated that we named our place, The Gym, and didn't fight to be unique, but he thought our place was 'acceptable' enough to sign up.

Our new member shook my mother's hand, and after a few seconds, shook mine, sliding in a slip of paper with his number on it. Slick.

My mom didn't seem to notice his pass at me, but when he left, I mentioned it to her.

"He was cute, but he was arrogant. You don't like him, do you?"

"Him? Ugh, gag me with a spoon!" I pretended to barf, holding onto my stomach.

"Phew, good."

"He's not my type."

"I know who is." Mom chimed.

"And who would that be, Mother?"

"Oh, I think you know." My mom was insufferable. All last night, Mom talked about how amazing Mick was with Jamie, because Jamie already wants Mick to babysit her again. I think Mom and Jamie like him more than I do, or close to it.

"Don't start with that again. He's great, I know."

"And he's perfect for you. He's...oh shoot; the mail is here. Honey, will go grab it so the mailman doesn't have to walk all the way to the slot?"

"Sure." Anything to avoid this conversation.

I opened the front door of the gym and speed-walked to the mailman's postal truck.

"Hey, Joey. We have some mail today?" The man, sweaty and tired, smiled anyway.

"Yeah, quite a bit today." He reached from his sling bag, handing me a pile of mail.

"Are y'all busy?"

"My route is almost over. We're training a new guy, so it's been pretty hectic lately."

"Oh, well tell him I said he's learning from the best. Take care, Joey." I said, waving goodbye with my free hand.

"Bye, Natt." I walked back to the gym, listening to the engine of the truck drive off, only to stop in front of the next building.

I searched through the mail, looking for anything with my name on it. I found junk mail, mostly, all but one.

"I got my business license in."

"Say what, honey?"

"My business license is here! I'll be able to take over the gym officially."

"This is great news. Oh gosh, I'm so happy for you. It's been my dream to share this place with you, and we can make it official now." Mom gave me a loving hug and held the note to read it herself.

"Let's celebrate, huh? We can leave long enough for a good lunch. I'll go get your sister and we can go eat somewhere of your choosing." She continued.

"Hm, I'd say pizza but I can't look at pizza after yesterday's gummy worm experiment. How about Chinese? New China is opened early for lunch and their buffet is to die for." My sister was in love with their fried shrimp and frog legs, so it was a good choice for all of us.

"Sounds great. Let me go get your sister."

After getting ready, changing out of my work clothes and into a skinny jeans and a pretty, chiffon top, I was ready to go.

We sat by the buffet for easy access, as we always did.

"Here, your animal has a place, too." I set my sister's stuffed animal on a free chair next to her. I hoped her dependence on her stuffed animal subsides, but for now, I'd sympathize with her and pray that we can soon get her a new puppy.

"Tell your sister thank you." Mom said, fixing a small plate on front of my sister. I adjusted the place mat for her, which was a thin paper with the Chinese horiscope writting in English, ironically enough.

"Thank you, Natt." She cheered.

"So Natalie, have you told your friends about your license?" Mom tried to fix her own plate of food, then attempted to take a bite with chopsticks, but her fumbling fingers opting for a fork.

"I texted Trixie, but I haven't told anyone else."

"Ahh, I bet Holt and Mick will be happy to hear it, especially Mick since he's taken an interest in our gym." By 'gym' she meant me, it was too obvious in her tone of voice. She assumed mentioning Holt's name with Mick's will throw me off, but I knew what she was hinting at.

"Oh, Mick is so nice. I wish he could have come eat with us." Jamie nearly jumped off the chair with excitement at the mention of Mick, similar to what my heart does thinking about him.

"I wish so, too. Why didn't you invite him?"

"I thought this was a girl's day. I honestly didn't think about it." I said.

"I am sure he would've appreciated it. Don't be so closed off, Natalie."

"I'm trying, geesh, Mom." I had no argument against her. She was right in the fact that I had difficulties opening up for fear of being hurt, or rejected. If I admit that I like him openly, he might tell me he wants to be only friend, just like Holt, and then I'll be officiating in another wedding.

"Sweetheart, I love you, but that boy is crazy about you."

"I get it, thanks. I think I'll to over to his house and tell him the good news."
Mom fixed a piece of her bun, then took another bite of fried rice.

"Excellent idea. I'll make you some triple fudge brownies to bring to his house, and maybe some red velvet ones, too. You can even tell him you made them." She is trying way too hard, but I appreciated it deep down.

"Thanks. I love you, Mom."

"We love you, too, right Jamie?" Mom smiled at a perky Jamie, who was trying to feed her animal. She looked up, doe-eyed and happy.

"Right!"