Page 22 of Full Throttle 2
“Lie to Aunt Faye? Girl, are you crazy? I’d rather lie to the IRS.”
“Lila, darling.” Jasmine Faye James was calling out to her. She began to knock louder. Lila was sure all of Brian’s neighbors could hear her. “I know you’re in there!”
“I’m sorry,” Colby said. “Call me after she leaves.”
Pissed, Lila disconnected the call and stood up straight. She tilted her head from side to side like a boxer before entering the ring while dancing on the balls of her feet. She whispered to herself, “I’ve got this. I can handle my mother.”
Lila took one more deep breath, walked over to the door, and opened it. Her mom’s hand was frozen in midair.
“I thought I was going to have to get the doorman up here.” Faye breezed into Brian’s condo like she owned the place. She had an undeniable elegance reminiscent of Diahann Carroll’s timeless beauty. Rich, dark, luminous skin like Lupita Nyong’o complemented her striking full lips and large brown eyes. Lila was the spitting image of her mother, just younger.
Faye gave her daughter a disapproving once-over before speaking. “Hello, Lila.”
“Hello, Faye.” Lila’s mother had always hated when she called her mom or mother, so Lila referred to her by her middle name.
Good Lord. I’m not at all ready for this.It was too early in the day to start drinking, but if Colby had given her a heads-up, she would have had a shot of something or at least a gummy. Something to take the edge off.
Faye handed Lila her Chanel wrap. “Oh, dear. You’re never going to get that man to marry you looking like that.”
Subconsciously, Lila touched her hair, now pulled back into a long, bone-straight ponytail that hung well past her waist. Of course, her mother would catch her wearing socks, one of Brian’s oversized T-shirts, and nothing else.
“Where is that handsome man? I think it is past time we met.”
Up to this point, Faye had been having a one-woman conversation. And, if her mother hadn’t been traipsing all over the world in search of her next benefactor, she would have met Brian by now. “Well, you have been busy. I haven’t seen you since before the Brickyard 400. That was at least a year ago.”
Faye clapped her hands together. “Isn’t it wonderful seeing our little Colby grace the cover of magazines for driving those silly old cars?”
Lila nodded as she followed her mother into the living room. “Not sure I would categorize breaking barriers and glass ceilings by becoming a champion NASCAR driver as silly, but yes. I am very proud of her.”
Faye took a seat. “You know what I mean.”
Lila plastered on the biggest faux smile. “Of course I do.”You meant exactly what you said.
Faye glanced around Brian’s apartment. “Your guy has good taste. Did he hire a decorator?”
Lila’s smile morphed into something more genuine. “No. He let me decorate the place. Brian couldn’t care less abou?—”
Faye didn’t give Lila a chance to finish. “Well, that would explain why you’ve mixed and matched designers all willy-nilly.”
I thought you said he had good taste.Her mother always had a way of making Lila feel small. Today wasn’t any different. She was also starting to sound like a parrot. “So, where is Brian?”
“Did you come all the way to East Moline, Illinois, in search of Brian?”
“Of course I did, darling. I need to make sure this man is worth my daughter’s time. You can’t waste your precious youth on someone who doesn’t plan on securing your future. Let’s face it; you’re not getting any younger, and unlike Colby, you don’t have a career to fall back on.”
If Lila felt small before, she felt whatever size was smaller than that. “Actually, Faye, I’m working on finishing my degree. I’ve been attending the University of Illinois. Their online program.”
Faye stared at her long and hard before speaking. “In what and why exactly?”
Her mother’s reaction caused Lila to feel less sure of her decision. “I’ve always been good at math and science. I’m majoring in business with a minor in chemistry.”
“No offense, Lila, but you are too beautiful to waste time and energy on a silly degree. Time is not on your side. What are you doing to get that ring from Brian?”
When did getting a degree become silly?It wasn’t surprising to hear this take from Faye, but it was still disappointing. Some things never changed. Lila sighed. “I’m not sure if he ever plans to propose, but it’s okay if we don’t have everything figured out yet.”
“You young girls kill me. Colby is still living at home with Cyrus while dating a billionaire, and you haven’t figured out how to lock Brian down. I taught you better than that.”
Lila was doing her level best to stay cool and not be disrespectful. Her mother had never been married. She’d had more benefactors than Lila could count and was still broke. She didn’t want to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Lila wanted more. “Well, I’ve been down the road of depending on a man, and I’m okay if I don’t end up married. I’ll be fine just having a wonderful partner.”