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really disgusted me.
    “Yes, Mom. Wyatt’s fine. I hardly get to see him, though. We have different schedules.” My mother and Wyatt’s mother were in the same garden club and lunched together often.
    “Oh.” She paused a minute. “Have you heard from your father lately?”
    So now we’d got around to the real reason for the call. I rolled my eyes, thankful she couldn’t see me. “Yeah, he called the other day to complain about a charge I’d put on the credit card he gave me. I had to spend $400 on new tires and he was mad I didn’t ask first. But I thought that was what the card was for. And I had to have them, so…”
    My mother sighed heavily on the phone. “You know your father, Presley. He has no problem at all showering his new wife with anything her heart desires, but when it comes to providing for his only child —he pitches a fit.”
    I shook my head. Mom was always downing my father for one thing or the other. When I was little, and I came home from my dad’s excited that he’d taken me out for ice cream, she’d complain that he was filling me with junk food. If he didn’t take me to do something special, she’d complain that he never spent any quality time with me. He couldn’t win for losing with her and I really couldn’t blame him for avoiding her the way he did.
    And honestly, I probably should have at least let him know that I’d had to use the card to get new tires. He had plenty of money to spare, but he was a total control freak and liked to know where every penny was being spent. I had definitely inherited that from him.
    I just liked to control other aspects of my life. Like my feelings for a certain Braden Worthington.
    And as if my mother could read my mind, she asked, “Are you seeing anyone?”
    I would have to make very sure to keep my voice as neutral as possible when I answered. If my mother had even an inkling that I was falling for someone, she’d do everything in her power to convince me of what a disaster it would be. Unless of course he was pre-law or loaded with family money. Somehow I didn’t think “in a band” would be something she’d approve of, no matter how successful he was.
    And I didn’t need her to ruin my chance at happiness; I was doing a great job of that all by myself.
    “Nobody serious, Mom. And if you don’t believe me, ask Wyatt.”
    “No need for that. I’ll take your word on it. You need to find some nice guy who’ll be able to provide for you. Someone like your father. You don’t need to get distracted by a guy going nowhere.”
    My mouth dropped open. Did she really just say like my father ?
    “Mom, seriously? You can’t stand Dad and you want me to find someone just like him?” My mother could be so infuriating to talk to.
    “Presley. Your father is an executive at a large company. He has provided well for us over the years. I just want to make sure you’re happy in life.”
    I could only shake my head in disbelief at her horribly misconstrued way of thinking. But, if there was one thing I knew about my mother, it was that arguing with her would be absolutely pointless.
    I swallowed back what I really wanted to say and instead pointed out, “Um, Mom. That’s why I’m going to college, remember? So that I can take care of myself.” I really needed to end this call. My nerves were already fried from sorting out my feelings for Braden. I seriously didn’t need my mother’s prying right now.
    “Look, Mom. I’m exhausted. I’ll call you later.”
    “Fine, Presley. But next time you talk to your father, remind him about that trip to Europe that we have planned. He’ll need to contribute for your part in that.”
    One. Two. Three…. I counted to keep from losing it on her. Talking to my mother was painful sometimes. Truly.
    “Okay. Bye.” I ended the call and flopped back on my bed, my head sinking into my huge down pillow. The faint vibration and buzz of my phone next to me had me groaning out loud. If this was my mother