20. Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

Liam

" H ow often do you go out with her?" I keep my eyes on my mom as she brushes her hair.

"I try to take her out once or twice a week. She's a lot better outdoors." Capri sounds like that shocks her, but it makes me feel better about going out with my mom. I'm dragging Capri with us since this is the first time I'm stepping out of this house with her, but I'm trying to be positive, as Capri said I should be.

"Are you two ready?" My mom turns to us as if we're not waiting for her .

I smile down at her sassy ass before taking her hand. "Yes, Mom, come on."

We walk out to my car, and when I open the back seat for her so she can sit with Capri, she walks right past me and opens the driver's side.

"Yeah, no." I shut the door before kissing her head. "You wouldn't drive my car if it was your dying wish, Mom." I open the backseat door again as Capri breaks into a laugh.

"It's cute that you call your father's car yours, but you don't have your license, and he'll be very upset if you drive his car. Get in the back seat, Liam, and put your seatbelt on." She opens the driver's side door, and again, I close it.

"I do have my license and—"

"You do not have your license, Liam. In the back seat, or you can stay."

I can stay? She doesn't even know where we're fucking going.

Before I can voice another protest, Capri steps forward. "Here, why don't I drive and—"

"Fuck no."

"Excuse me?" My mom crosses her arms and sends me a stern look. "You're lucky I'm tired. Pri can drive."

I open my mouth to say she isn't driving my goddamn car, but my mom holds a finger up.

"Another word, and you'll stay. In the car. We have things to do." She climbs in the back seat, and I look over at Pri, who's smiling too damn happily.

"I've never driven a Rolls-Royce." She holds her hands out for my keys but I don't hand them over.

"And you're not going to."

She rolls her eyes before getting in the back seat and convincing my mom that I know how to drive. My mom is a backseat driver the entire time, and it reminds me of when she taught me how to drive, so I don't complain as we head to the mall.

After looking at a few stores, I'm still not sure what to get Sage for her birthday. I think of what she said about how things you can use make better gifts, but the woman is richer than me and has everything. I think of getting her makeup, but she has people who do her makeup, and I wouldn't even know what she uses.

I turn to my mom. "What makes a good birthday gift for a girl?"

A smile reaches her lips as she steals a glance at me. "Is this for your friend who's a girl but not your girlfriend?"

I falter for a beat before looking over at Capri. I didn't think she'd remember that. Capri doesn't answer my silent question, and my mom goes on.

"If you're confident you know her style well enough, maybe a cute bag will do."

I nod in thought as we keep walking.

"So you do like her?" It's clear she's teasing, and the smile I was fighting breaks through.

"Yeah, I like her, Mom." I shake my head at her when she smiles way to big.

When Sage kept asking if I was okay yesterday, I didn't want to ruin her day with my shitty problems. But then she looked at me like she was so concerned. These last couple of years, I haven't had anyone worry about me, but seeing the worry in Sage's eyes, I couldn't stop the words from pouring out of my mouth.

I didn't think it'd be that easy to talk to her. She just held me and just listened, and I felt good after talking to her. Capri always badgers me and tells me I shouldn't keep shit bottled up, but I didn't realize how good it felt to talk about it until I was in Sage's arms.