“You’ve lost weight,” mom said, looking me up and down with a critical eye.
“Have I?” I asked uncaringly.
“Your cheekbones look like they’re about to pop out of your face.”
“Don’t exaggerate.”
“You look malnourished.”
“Mom,” I said, rolling my eyes at her.
She had just finished work, and she had popped over to see me. Seth was working a late shift today, so he would probably join us later in the night. Until then, it was just mom and me, eating the pizza and ice cream and trying not to talk about Devlin. At least I was trying, mom seemed intent on discussing the topic to death.
“I’m just saying… there’s no point starving yourself over a man,” mom said.
“Seriously?” I asked. “Have you forgotten the time that one of your boyfriends called you ‘pudgy’ and you went on a liquid diet for two weeks right after?”
“I must have blocked that out,” she said with a smile that told me she knew exactly what I was talking about.
I shook my head at her. “First of all, I am not starving myself for anyone. Look at me… I’m eating ice cream and pizza.”
“No, you’re picking at that piece of pizza, and all your ice cream has melted because you’re no
t actually eating any of it.”
I sighed. “I’m not hungry,” I said, pushing away my plate and closing the lid on the ice cream tub.
“You haven’t been hungry for a month.”
“I’m preoccupied.”
“Darling… maybe you should talk to him—”
“This has nothing to do with him,” I snapped. Of course, I was lying. It had everything to do with him, but I was just in one of those rebellious moods that meant I just wanted to disagree with everything mom said. “I’m just… I need to find a real job, and I need to find a place to live. I can’t stay here with Seth forever… and anyway there’s no room.”
“You can stay with me if you want,” mom said.
“Thank you, but no,” I said firmly. “Your apartment isn’t much bigger and… it gets crowded over there.”
“Are you referring to my… friends?”
“You mean your boyfriends?” I corrected. “Yes, I am.”
“They’re not really boyfriends.”
“Fine then,” I said. “Booty calls.”
“Zoey.”
“Do you deny that’s what they are?” I demanded. “I mean they’re here one day, and then they’re gone the next. What do you need them for if not for sex?”
“Maybe I just don’t want to be tied down.”
I scoffed. “Or maybe you just don’t know how to pick a man.”
“That’s interesting coming from you,” mom said, cocking her head to the side.
I paused and then sighed. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m just—”