The Impact of You

Jase

I drag the phone away from my ear at the shrill of laughter. It’s great hearing my mom so chipper, but no one needs this much information on the latest romance novel her book club is reading, least of all her son. Gah…

My dad has returned from China and we even manage to exchange a few friendly words over the phone before he hands it over to my mom. To my surprise, he thanks me for coming home to check on her while he was away. I didn’t think he’d notice or care, so it’s good to know he did.

“How’s Avery?” Mom asks next. “I told your dad how pretty and sweet she is.”

Shit. Just hearing her name is like a kick to the gut. I try to decide what to say next. “Ah…She and I aren’t seeing each other anymore.”

did you do to screw things up?”

Mom. Thanks for automatically assuming it was me.”

she won’t just let this drop, like I’m silently begging her to do. “That girl was sweet as pie, Jase, and I could tell how you two felt about each

It sounds like a bullshit excuse when I say it

could take back. You, me, and I know your dad regrets how he handled things with you. But we don’t just cut people out of our lives when they make mistakes. I thank God

it was more how I found out. I wish Avery would have trusted me enough to come

you ask her why she didn’t come to you? Give her a chance to explain herself? Maybe she was

when my mom’s

wish I