Why Do You Love Me ── MATTHEW GRAY GUBLER

xii. friendsgiving

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REINA'S POV

It's Friendsgiving. Or what I like to call it, hell. 

It isn't my tradition, it's Stef's. And due to my lack of friends, I attend every year and end up leaving early due to the discomfort of being surrounded by Stef and Dylan's friends whom I have nothing in common with. I mean, she's a school teacher, he's a gym rat, it only made sense their crowds were not people I ran with. It's a miracle I even got along with Stef and Dylan alone.

I figured that'd be the case again this year, and I already thought up my excuses one day at work when I was bored. There were some standard ones like, "I have work tomorrow" or "I think I just got my period" but there was also the more interesting ones like "my neighbor just texted me that a raccoon is ransacking my backyard" or my personal favorite "my dad just died." That's more wishful thinking than an excuse, though. 

But I don't have the opportunity to use any of those this year because after a bursted pipe in Stef's house, it turns out I'm hosting this year. Well, technically Stef is still the host, but it's taking place at my house. She's still in charge, it's still all her friends, and I made it very clear that I would be treating it just like every other Friendsgiving; which involves me not talking to anybody and drinking a majority of the alcohol. 

Which brings us to now, where I lounge on my couch with a glass in my hand, while Stef works on rearranging the pillows behind me. I can tell she's growing more and more frustrated by my lack of help, but I can't be blamed for that, she was warned. 

Besides, I'm tired, and quite frankly, if this wasn't taking place at my house I was going to attempt to skip the annual event this year. Keyword attempt.

After Matthew and I successfully painted Liana's room, I spent the next few days working on furnishing the bedroom. I don't know the first thing about what it takes to raise a teenager, but, what I do know is I want to create a space where she's comfortable and never has to feel like she's trapped. So, based on what I knew about my sister, I created what I thought was her dream room as best as I could. So far, I haven't gotten that phone call I've been waiting for that'd take me back to my mom's house. But I have a feeling it's coming soon.

I've been keeping tabs on Liana, and so far, what I've learned is he's still around. It seems my mom had a talk with him because Liana said he's been avoiding her for the time being. I can't say I'm surprised that my mom tried to talk some sense into him and he actually listened to her, this isn't the first time this has happened. I just know that each and every time I get my hopes up that he'll change, I'm left disappointed. And Liana knows that too, which is why her packed bag remains in the corner of her room still. 

Am I ready for what it takes to be a surrogate mother for a teenager?

Absolutely not. There's no doubt about that. But I'll make my way up to that readiness if it means I get to make Liana's life much better than mine was.