I sigh. “I pissed him off.”
“I gathered. What happened? And was that a thong bikini?”
I can feel the fire in my cheeks. My mom isn’t nearly as excessive with the overshares as Gigi, but she has zero problem addressing sometimes uncomfortable topics.
“Gigi got it for me for pre-Cancun tanning.”
“Of course. I need to have a talk with her.” My mom rolls her eyes. “So, I’m guessing the bare-ass show was meant to get someone’s attention.”
“Mom.”
“Well, you’re not much of an exhibitionist, so I assume you were doing it to make a point.”
I blow out a breath and explain what happened—not all of what’s been happening, but the part about Kodiak seeing my schedule and then magically appearing in my art class to pose as our nude model.
“Nude as in . . .”
“As in swinging free.”
“Really? Kody vomits before games, and he got naked in front of your class?”
“How do you know he pukes before games?”
“Rook and your dad talk, and your dad tells me everything before he falls asleep.”
“Oh, well, yeah. He was totally naked. For almost three full hours.”
“Huh.” My mom taps her lips. “That’s an interesting way to communicate your undying love for someone.”
It’s my turn to roll my eyes. “He was being a dick.”
My mom gives me a look and drops her head, snickering like a teenage boy, which is roughly the level of her sense of humor.
“Seriously, Mom.”
“Oh, come on! It’s kind of funny.”
“Well, it might be if he wasn’t a complete asshole to me all the time.”
That seems to sober her. “It’s that bad?”
I shrug. “I know things were messed up when we were kids, but it’s been years. I don’t get why he needs to keep reminding me I messed up his life.”
“You didn’t mess up his life, Lavender.”
“Well, he’s very intent on making me feel that way. And don’t you dare tell Lainey I said that. The last thing I need is Lainey telling Kodiak he needs to be nice to me. Then I’m the sucky baby who runs to Mommy when I can’t handle it,” I snap.
“Talking to your mother doesn’t make you a sucky baby.”
I kind of love how offended she sounds.
I point at her two-dimensional face on the screen. “Do not tell her.”
She scowls. She really, really hates pointing, which I did a lot of as a kid. “I won’t, but I wish you’d said something to me before we agreed to let him move into the house, even temporarily. Lainey and I thought we were doing the two of you a favor, and I don’t believe Kodiak thinks you messed up his life.”
“Well, we can agree to disagree about that. You’re not here to experience the warm fuzzies he exudes around me.”
“Kody has never exuded warm fuzzies, honey, except with you and Lainey. He’s a momma’s boy through and through. Kody’s brain doesn’t work the way everyone else’s does.”
“I’m aware.”
“Are you also aware that he has an infinity symbol tattoo?”
“I’m pretty sure I would’ve seen a tattoo when he posed nude for my class.”
“Unlikely since it’s in the webbing of his left hand between his ring and middle finger.” Her expression is ridiculously smug.
“How do you know this stuff?”
“Lainey and I talk. He got it two years ago.” She sighs before she continues. “Look, honey, we screwed up a lot of stuff when you two were kids—including the way we dealt with the situation when things started to get out of hand. Lainey feels as bad as I do about it. We projected our own fears onto your relationship with him, because we were worried about the future. I don’t think any of us took into consideration how severely it would impact both of you, or the extremes Kody would go to in order to keep from hurting you.”
“To keep from hurting me?” My eyebrows shoot up. “He’s being a grade-A asshole extraordinaire. He makes River’s bad moods look like sunshine and rainbows.”
My mom makes a face. It looks a lot like she’s constipated, which means she’s trying to hold back her commentary.
“Just spit it out, Mom.”
She sighs and rubs her temples. “I think I’ve done enough interfering.”
“Oh, come on! You can’t do the whole temple-rub-and-sigh thing and then decide you don’t want to offer your opinion!” I want to throw my hands up in the air, but I’m holding my phone. I secure it in the dash holder so I’m free to flail.
“We made some big mistakes as parents. We wanted to protect you from all the things that could hurt you, and sometimes we took that to the extreme because we’d failed you in the past. You’ve overcome a lot, kiddo, and your dad and I are super proud of you. As far as Kody goes, I don’t think he hates you at all.”
“I’ll respectfully disagree.”
“Do you remember that pencil case you made him for his birthday when you were ten?”
I look away, embarrassed. How could I forget? I’d been so excited. I’d filled it with all kinds of hockey- and science-themed school supplies because those were Kodiak’s two favorite things. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“He still has it.”
I say nothing, aware the pause is for dramatic effect.
“He always has it with him. The last time he came home to visit his parents, he almost missed a practice because he was having a coronary over the fact that he couldn’t find it and wouldn’t leave without it.”
I don’t have the slightest idea how to process any of this. It’s such a contradiction to the way he’s been with me from the first moment I saw him this year. “So, what are you saying? I shouldn’t move into the dorms? I should confront him?”
“If you want to move into the dorms, I think that’s exactly what you should do. Kody needs to figure this out on his own, and you showing your independence by moving out might be the kick in the ass he needs.”
“So you’re okay with me doing this?” I expected more of a fight.
“Yup.”
“What do you think Dad is going to say?” Just the thought of his reaction makes me anxious.
“I don’t think he thought it through when he pushed for you to move in with your brothers.”
“How do you mean?”
“All the parties and such. He assumed having River and Maverick around would create a nice, safe bubble for you, but he failed to consider that while those boys are protective, they’re also hormonal.”
“I don’t want to date their jock friends anyway,” I mutter.
My mom makes a sound that isn’t a word. “I didn’t fight River or your dad on you living with the boys because I thought it would be a good, safe transition. I also thought it might give you and Kody a chance to reconnect, but that obviously hasn’t been as seamless as I’d hoped. I’ll take care of your dad.”
“You’re sure?” I have no real intention of dealing with him, but I figure I should at least throw it out there.