Chapter 6 - Mom Knows Best

Liam

“You’re tutoring the Asher Prince?” my mother asked me for the fifth time since I told her the newest happenings. What can I say? My mom is my best friend and besides, he might be here when she gets back from work at times. I don’t want her to get the wrong idea about us being alone in the house.

“Yes, mom,” I responded, rolling my eyes while I shred chicken for the salad.

“Shiiiit, he must be in real trouble to come to you,” she says as she takes a sip of her coffee.

I look up at her with a frown. “Wait, what exactly is that supposed to mean?” I ask, feeling slightly offended at her words, but she only chuckles.

“The boy is an Alpha male quarterback and probably a homophobe, yet he came to the only openly gay guy for help. I bet he told you to keep it a secret as well.” She says, and I am left dumbfounded at her answer. I look down and continue to shred the chicken, feeling embarrassed by her words. How do mothers do it?

I feel a hand on my shoulder as she sidles up next to me. “Don’t feel embarrassed. Guys like Asher Prince are a dime a dozen, especially in a small town like this. They’ll suck you dry and toss you aside as soon as they’re done with you, so try not to get too close to him, okay?” She says, and I lay my head on her shoulder, wondering how I was going to cope without her and her comforting words when I needed them. A phone or video call definitely would not make up for her presence. 

“Thanks, mom,” I say, not explaining what my thank you was for, but I think she knew already.

She kisses my forehead, then continues with the demolishing of a cucumber.

“Oh, mom,” I say, suddenly remembering something, “why the heck are you at home, anyway?” She looks at me and smirks.

“Everyone is under the impression that I’m burning out, so they chased me home for the next two days. They reckon they can cope without me.” She says and rolls her eyes. Although I can hear the annoyance in her voice, there was also relief at the prospect of resting. I smile,

“Thank God for your co-workers. Hopefully, you do get some rest in, mom.” She sticks her tongue out at me and pops a piece of cheese into her mouth.

We bicker back and forth before we settled down to have supper together. As usual, I do most of the talking while she listens and offers advice where she’s able to. And as usual, I pick up on the loneliness that lace her voice and eyes. My mother is a strong-willed, stubborn woman, a trait I got from her, I might add. She’s always helping others and neglecting herself - something I think she does on purpose due to the guilt she feels over her failed marriage to my father.

I clear the dishes away, and my mother excuses herself before heading to her room. She will probably stay there for the rest of the evening and wallow in her own thoughts again. Sighing, I contemplate keeping her company, but I know she would just brush my help to the side. Remember when I said she was strong-willed and stubborn? Add proud to the list and you have my mother - she would not accept my help or comfort even if I had to beg her.

This contributed to my worries about leaving her alone in this town. She would be by herself on a permanent basis and I wouldn’t be here to help ease her loneliness. I suppose we will always worry about our parents, especially when we’re raised in a loving environment where we could be ourselves without judgement. Letting out one last sigh, I fold the dish towel and head out of the kitchen, switching off the light before heading to my room.

“Night, mom!” I shout as I walk past her bedroom, but I hear the shower running and realise that she might not have heard me.

I strip and get ready for bed, trying not to think about tomorrow and what it would entail. Asher would be in my home and it would probably smell his cologne long after he leaves. Why did I have to say yes to this fucking thing?

Yet again, I would get used as they needed me, taking their fill and so much more, then I would get left out in the gutter. I should have ‘idiot’ stamped on my forehead. Wait, maybe that’s what the jocks see when they see me. It would explain why they always use and abuse me.

Fuck sakes. This grumbling won’t get me anywhere right now, I think as I get under my covers and turn off the light on my bedside table. Maybe I could speak to Asher about rather asking Fallon for help. Seeing as she was the second smartest in the school, she should truly be the one helping him and not me. Yeah, that would work.

Stupid me, smiling at this thought before my cell phone signals I’ve received a text message. I wish I never read it, I should just have gone to bed and ignored my cell phone because the text succeeded in making me change my mind about Fallon. It was from Asher:

Thanks again for saying yes to tutoring me. You have no idea how much you have saved my ass! - A.

I drift off to sleep with an unwanted smile on my face and thoughts of Asher Prince and his perfect ass.