Before You

Chapter 44

"Evy, your phone keeps going off." Boston says.

I open my eyes and see her sitting up on her bed holding my phone out in front of me. I take a quick glance around the room. Mason is on the floor next to my side of the bed sleeping soundly. Zane is still curled up next to the closet door lightly snoring.

"Sorry. I didn't hear it." I respond, taking the phone out of her hands.

I swipe open my phone, searching for where the noises are coming from. As the screen opens, I see three missed calls from my mother and a text from Jett telling me good morning. There's also a notification for a voicemail. I check my voicemail, turning the volume down so that it won't wake anyone.

Evy, it's noon. I expect to see you home soon.

I hear the call end and lay the phone next to me. I knew my mother wouldn't be pleased. I gently get off the bed, being careful not to step on Mason, and go into the bathroom to change my clothes. I'm not ready to go back home yet, but I can't stay at Boston's house the entire week. I'm sure my mother has a list of things she wants me to do while I'm here. Too bad she'll be disappointed when they don't get done, I think to myself. I walk back into Boston's room and go over to her side of the bed.

"I'm going to leave. I'll call you later." I whisper to her.

Boston nods her head with her eyes still closed. I walk over to her bedroom door and look around the room once more. Zane has to be uncomfortable. His body is still scrunched up into the same fetal position he was in last night. Mason has his arms stretched out and a slight smile on his face. He looks so innocent lying on the floor like this. Not at all like the angry man that just recently punched Gage in the face. I take a step back and quietly close Boston's door behind me.

Soon after, I'm back at my mother's house. Boston's place isn't too far from mine, which was always nice, when I had to rush home after being at her house everyday. I park my car and walk up to the front door. I'm surprised when my mother opens the door before I can even reach for the handle. She stands before me, staring at me like she's trying to process information.

"Good morning." I say, walking past her and into the house.

"Don't you mean afternoon? You've slept half of the day away." She responds.

"Well, that's okay. I don't get too many days to sleep in. Having one today isn't going to hurt anything." I reply.

I walk into the living room and see Brad sitting quietly on the couch watching television. He glances up at me quickly, giving a small wave of hello, and turns back to the television. I wave back on my way to my bedroom. I sit down on my bed, taking my shoes off one by one. My mother stands in my doorway with her arms crossed in front of her chest. Here it comes. She's about to explode any minute, I think to myself.

"Evy, I apologize for leaving yesterday when you arrived. Although, it was a nice thing for me to do for Mrs. Andrews, I do realize that you had just gotten home." She speaks, looking around my bedroom.

I'm sure my eyes are wide and my mouth is open. There's no way I heard her correctly. She's apologizing to me? I don't know if that's even happened before. If it has, it's been so long that I can't remember. My mother looks around my room trying not to make eye contact with me. Nevertheless, she still apologized. I'll take it as a baby step.

"Um, thank you." I respond.

My mother nods her head and walks back into the living room. I pick up my shoes putting them next to my closet door. I'm going to be here all week. I need to unpack some of my things. I open the empty dresser drawers and stuff them with my clothes. I zip my empty luggage bag and sit it next to the dresser. My mind wanders back to the day I left here with my luggage. I was so anxious to have it packed and finally be leaving this place. I definitely didn't expect to be back this soon if at all. I walk back into the living room to find my mother and Brad sitting on the couch next to each other.