Off Sides by ML Michaels

Author:ML Michaels [Michaels, ML]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2017-05-30T04:00:00+00:00

“Mom, you can’t stay here alone,” Lily said, getting back down to business. “It’s too big here all by yourself. You need a smaller place. You need to move.”

“Nonsense,” Cindy said. “Didn’t Noah tell you his plan?”

“No!” Lily shouted. She didn’t mean to be so loud. Her mom turned and gave her an incredulous look.

“Are you shouting at me?” she asked.

“No, no,” Lily backpedalled. “I just…he didn’t tell me his plan. Besides, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“How can you not think it’s a good idea if you don’t know the idea?” Cindy said.

“I just know,” Lily said through gritted teeth. “So let’s just drop it.”

“I’m not going to drop it. You don’t know the plan,” Cindy said. “He was supposed to tell you. I bet that you didn’t give him a chance. That’s why you came home in that cab. You need to give people a chance, Lily.”

“I’m not talking about this,” Lily said, through gritted teeth. “Please. I just… Mom you need to move out. I want you to live near me. Let’s sell the house. I’ll move you to New York. You can stay with me for a while.”

“I will do no such thing,” her mom said, in the iciest voice she had ever heard her use. “You chose to leave, not me. This is my home. So this is where I’m staying.”

“But it’s dangerous!” Lily said, raising her voice again.

Her mom stared at her for a long time. Lily felt herself wilting under her mom’s stare.

“You know, Lily,” her mom said. “I raised you to be courteous and kind. I wanted to raise you to think of others. Sometimes it’s not easy, putting yourself out there. But it’s always worth it. I have to say that right now, I’m disappointed. I’m sad at what the world has done to you. I’m really sad that you have become quite selfish.”

With that, her mom turned on her heel and left the room.

Lily stared down at her quickly cooling pancakes. Her eyes were slowly filling with tears.

What was she doing?

What was she doing here? What was she doing in New York? She didn’t know what was going on anymore.

And all she could think about was Noah on the bridge. With the letter in his hand.

Lily started when there was a knock on the screen door. Then she could hear a familiar voice calling into them.

“Hello?”

It was Noah.

Lily wiped her eyes quickly and put on her lawyer face. She could be cool, calm and collected when she needed to. She didn’t have to wear any emotions. She would drown out the world with this facade.

She would not let him get to her. Not again. Not ever.

Lily got up and went to the door. She didn’t open it. She stared at him from the other side of wire mesh.

“I don’t know what plan you have,” Lily said. “But my mom isn’t going to do it. We’re going to sell the house. She’s coming back to New York. That’s where I’m going.

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