Free If I Say Yes by Brandy Jellum Page A

been a chip off the ol’ block. He’s had his fair share of rude qualities. The bridge comes into view. Out in the more public area, I can relax a bit more. Reid continues to say nothing, and I glance at him. He’s just staring straight ahead.
    “Tell me about her,” I say. Reid stares at me, a slight smile tugs at the corner of his lips. “Tell me about your mother.”
    “She’s amazing,” he says affectionately. “The epitome of what every mother should be: sweet, caring, loving, and funny. She is stern when it is necessary, but never cruel or hateful. I have never come across anyone who isn’t affected by her infectious smile or her humor. Everyone adores her. She goes out of her way to help others…” I listen to his clear as day admiration for his mother and feel a twinge of jealousy. My mother was nothing like that. She was the complete opposite. “I remember one year, my father was out of town—”
    “Why was he out of town?” I interrupt.
    “Most likely a business trip. I can’t remember.” He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment like he is trying to remember.
    “I’m sorry,” I reply automatically. “As you were saying…”
    “Anyways, the year after my parents split, I became obsessed with Batman. Like so obsessed that I wore my Batman cape everywhere, even to bed. My mother had to sneak in every night to remove it just so it could be washed.” He laughs gently as he recalls the memory. “That year for Halloween, I, of course, wanted to be Batman. But what is Batman without his trusty sidekick Robin?” He gazes down at me, and I smile. “So my mother said she would be Robin, and she was. Not the girly costume version of him but the actual Robin. Mask and all.” Reid pauses for a moment. “I know that sounds silly…”
    “No, it really doesn’t.” And I’m not lying. It really doesn’t. “She sounds like a magnificent person.”
    “She is…” He pauses, as if remembering more memories. “That she is.” His smile is big when he says it. Reid glances at me and raises his eyebrows. “What about your mother?”
    My breath stops for a split second. He doesn’t know. He really doesn’t know about my mother. I sigh a breath of relief. If he doesn’t know about my mother, it means he doesn’t know about my father, and he certainly doesn’t know the truth about who I am. “She’s dead,” I answer plainly and stare straight ahead.
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be. I’m not.” It’s only half of a lie. Some days, I really do miss her, and whatever dysfunctional relationship we had, it worked for us. And most days, I’m really glad she’s gone. Out of my life and never able to hurt me again. Call me cruel. Call me a heartless bitch. Call me whatever, but the woman was just as cruel and heartless.
    “And your father?”
    “I stopped talking to him as soon as I could get away from him.” Tears threaten to form in my eyes.
    Reid stops me by the arm. He turns me so I am facing him, tucks another wild strand of my hair behind my ear, and rests his hand on my cheek. The world seems to fade away, disappearing behind us, leaving only the two of us standing there. We stare into each other’s eyes, and I try to ignore the pull between the two of us, but still find myself tilting my head up and leaning in. Our lips are about to meet for the fourth time when our moment is interrupted by the sound of screaming, and a young, sandy blonde haired girl pushes between us. A tall, slightly built man comes running towards us and stops just in front of us.
    “Sorry ‘bout that.” He smiles. “It’s time for dinner, and she doesn’t want to go home.”
    “Not a problem.” Reid snaps back in a cold, strident tone. What is Reid’s problem?
    The man, with the same shade of hair as the girl, nods his head, circles around me and continues to chase after the girl. “Amyra! It’s time to go… get over here!” he shouts after her.
    I laugh lightly. Reid shifts on his feet and starts