Mom drops her orange.
“He wasn’t going to give you more time, but I told him I’d get it paid, so he’s giving me until the end of the week.” I place a mug under the coffee spout, not meeting her stare, though I can feel her wide eyes gaping at me. “I understand Gia has already helped you recently. You’ve cleaned her out, so she has no more to give. I’m doing my part to help this one time. You hear that?” I finally lock eyes with her. “Once, Mom. That’s it. After this, you will be on your own. Gia and I have agreed.”
Mom flings her arms around me, crushing me in a hug that I want no part of. I stiffen, but she doesn’t catch on to my irritation. All she can focus on is how she’s miraculously escaped yet another s**t situation.
“Oh, sweetheart, thank you so much. I swear, it won’t happen ag
