Chapter 2

Emma's POV

“What was that, mom?!” I asked as soon as I walked in.

I was a little surprised to see that she was at home. I mean, what if I was bringing my non-existent boyfriend home for some quick after school make out sesh?

“Sit down, baby.” I had mixed feelings about her calling me baby. Sometimes, it made me feel like the center of her world which I was, other days, it just made me feel small, like it did now.

“Trust me, I was going to.” I almost passed out in the morning, I'm not trying to again.

“You don't have to sound that way, Emma.” At least she called my name. That was also a good and bad thing. She only used my name when there was something serious to say.

“I'm all ears mom.” I replied to her, sitting and crossing my legs at whatever manner of travesty was about to present itself again.

I couldn't also wait to get back to fantasizing about him, Kevin…

He'd break the news to you.

Before I had the time to ask who ‘he’ was, a tall handsome man walked out of my mom's room. His height and build was really frightening. What made it worse was that he really was a good looking man, and he was flashing his very fine set of teeth.

“Hey Emma, you don't have to be hard on your mom. I'm Mark. Then I saw that snake tattoo I caught on the video call earlier.

I almost choked as he extended his hands.

The thought of what those hands were doing earlier this morning did not make taking them less revolting.

I shook him regardless. My mom sat smiling like a puppy at the owner, his hands were quite soft for a man's, which was a good thing. I didn't want my mom in hard hands, literally and figuratively.

“You probably know I'm Emma, her world.” I don't know where that came from, but I saw a little frown creep on my mom's face. I didn't care.

“Now that's a beautiful thing.” Mark said. I wish he played into it and said something stupid. I really wanted to do something to make him feel stupid and come off his high horse. He really must have felt like he was on a row, controlling using our own house.

I hated how docile my mom was around him. He doesn't get to have me that way, he's not my…

“Sit, Emma. You don't have to stand.” Mark said smiling. “I recognise those sneakers too. They look pretty on you.” He said winking.

It was then I realized that when mom gave those shoes to me, it really was on behalf of someone else.

I wished I could pull them off and throw them in his face, but it did not make sense to lose my expensive shoes to salvage my non-existent dignity.

“Thank you.” I croaked. My unnecessary dislike for him wasn't going to let me seem like the stereotypical uncouth college girl.

The crease in mom's brow straightened out.

“I'd love to ask about many other things, but I see you can't wait for me to get to the point. You probably have a ton of buys to think about.” He joked. That almost made me blush, but I remembered I could not admit to it, and it was not “a ton of boys” It was just one.

“Alright.” I said curtly, I like how I sounded mature.

“I love your mom. We've been together for almost six months now, and I've decided I want to spend the rest of my life with her. She thinks the same too.” He said.

I smiled at how fluent he was.

“Is my mom your first?” I asked.

My mom shifted in her seat. I sense she was becoming uncomfortable, but I had to.

“No. I was married.” He answered gently, but my mom's hands were still rubbing his laps. It was so irritating to see. I hated that I felt that way, but I really couldn't help it.

“Did you say the same thing to her folks?” I asked bluntly.

“What do you mean?” I really wished Mark got annoyed, but he did not. I almost started to seem stupid.

“That you've decided to spend the rest of your life, bla bla bla.” I replied.

“Oh, yeah. I said so, I also did so. She got tired and said she couldn't do it anymore.” He replied.

“Mark, you don't…” Mom started speaking, but he cut her when he put her head on his shoulder.

I was now the enemy.

I really didn't want to know what my mom thought about me at that point.

“I'm sorry. I just wanted to…” I started apologizing. I really didn't need to be that rude.

“Oh no. Come on. You don't have to. You're only looking after your mom too. Wish I had something like that.” He said smiling. For the first time since our exchange, I smiled back. Mom was out at ease. I literally saw her melt into his hands.

“You don't?” I asked.

“I do. A boy, thinks himself a man. Safe to say he gives no hoot about his old man.” He did not look sad or sullen, just straight faced.

“I reality don't know what to say, but I guess he'll come around.” I replied to him.

“It's fine either way, Emma.” He said. “Am I welcome now? It's been really tiring having to eat with the love of my life and not being able to lock lips without looking over my shoulders.” The ‘joke’ was quite mature, but I understood him. And it made me laugh.

“You are, anytime.” I said. “Just don't do anything I wouldn't do. “ I said.

“Okay, miss.” I stopped at the store to pick something you might like. It's in the room.

“Really?!” I like him already! “Y'all catch up and have fun, but not too much.” It's the last thing I said before hopping out of the living room.