Texting Mr. Mafia: Curvy Girl, Age Gap Romance by Flora Ferrari

Author:Flora Ferrari [Ferrari, Flora]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-17T16:00:00+00:00

I spring to life when my phone rings. I haven’t been sleeping, exactly—I don’t think I’d be able to—but I’ve been disappearing into fantasy after fantasy. When I see that it’s Elio, I answer quickly.

“Yes? Hello? Is she safe?”

There’s a long pause, and then I hear Mom’s voice. I can tell she’s crying. “Oh, Scarlet.”

“Mom?” I yell. “Are you okay?”

“Your friend is driving me home now.” She sounds out of it and distraught at the same time, her voice torn. “I’m so sorry. I can’t even… I tried to find your dad, but I lost my pills. These damned pills. I’m done with them.”

“Mom, do you know… about dad?”

“Yes,” she whispers. “Elio told me. Well, I demanded to know. I need to tell you something, but that can wait until we’re together. I’ve not been a very good mother.”

“Mom—”

“It’s the truth,” she snaps. “I’ve let Philip lead us on a merry dance. I’ve ruined your childhood. I’ve let you work to support our family when I should have been. When you needed me most, I decided to get high instead. Scarlet, I’ve been a terrible mother, but I can do better.”

I wipe a tear from my cheek. “I love you, Mom. That’s never changed.”

“I love you too,” she replies, “but sometimes, more than love is needed.”

“You’re a good mom,” I tell her.

“No, Scarlet. I’ve been a terrible mother, but I can do better, and that’s the point. We’ve got a lot to talk about when I get home. Well, to Elio’s apartment. One thing we need to talk about is exactly how you got involved with this man.”

I swallow. “I’ll explain when I see you. I love you.”

She says I love you again, and then I hang up. I can’t lie down after talking with Mom. Standing, I pace up and down, anxiety twisting through me. Despite what happened to Dad, I’ve got a big smile on my face. I’m grinning like a loon. Mom is safe. That’s the most important thing.

About thirty minutes later, the door opens. Mom is wearing a hoodie two sizes too big—given to her by Elio or somebody else—making her look small and vulnerable. Her hair is tied up. She looks young and lost. Rushing across the room, she falls into my arms. I hug her fiercely, looking over her shoulder and seeing Elio in the doorway. Thank you, I mouth.

He nods, meeting my eyes with heavy emotion. “I’m going to explain to Mom,” he says, shutting the door.

My mom sobs fiercely as we cling to each other. She cries for a long time, then takes my shoulders and pushes herself back so she can look into my eyes. “I’ve got to tell you now. Perhaps I should’ve told you years ago, but sit down, Scarlet.”

I can’t imagine her telling me anything that will make this any less of a relief. She’s here. She’s safe. That’s all that matters. I can’t ignore the shiver of nerves deep inside when I sit down, and she sits beside me, taking my hand and massaging it slowly.

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