The Game Read Free Page B

the blanket pulled up high on her chest. She looked mortified, and I wondered how in the world my mother knew her when I didn't even know her name.
    "I have to speak with you, Robert," she said.
    "I'm listening."
    "In private," she said, glaring at me. She then turned her gaze toward Alicia and smiled at her politely, but the hardness never left her eyes. "If you'll excuse us, my dear, I need to have a private word with my degenerate son."
    "Yes, of course," Alicia said before scrambling off the bed. She pulled the sheet with her leaving me momentarily exposed. I snatched a pillow and covered myself, feeling a growing sense of irritation and embarrassment. My mother eyed me disapprovingly, but remained silent. We both waited for Alicia to get dressed and gone. When she had finally left, I turned toward my mother and folded my arms across my chest.
    "Well?" I asked.
    "Please take some time to cover yourself up, Robert," she said turning her back toward me. "I can't take you seriously like that."
    I thought about refusing. After all, she was the one who barged into my bedroom. Let her stew in discomfort. But then I realized that I'd be equally as uncomfortable. Despite my anger and irritation, it was much too awkward to have a conversation with my mother covered only by a pillow. I got off the bed and slipped on my bathrobe.
    "You can turn around now," I said, taking a seat on the bench by the bay windows.
    My mother faced me and walked forward, scanning my room and the discarded clothes on the floor distastefully. "I suppose I'll have to find a new party planner for your father and my anniversary party," she said.
    "Huh? What are you talking about?" I asked.
    A look of annoyance crossed her face. "Alicia. The woman who just scurried out of your room half dressed."
    "What does she have to do with anything?"
    She looked at me disbelievingly but quickly schooled her features. "She was our party planner," she said.
    "Oh." The memory of last night came rushing back to me--running into Alicia at my parent's townhouse, and later meeting up with her at Synergy.
    "Really Robert, you disappoint me. How long can you live like this?" she began.
    It was the same old refrain I'd heard for the past year. Ever since my cousin Roman had announced he was getting married, my mother had been like a woman on a mission. She'd been pressuring me to settle down as well, as if I would be so foolish as to follow in Roman's footsteps.
    "As long as I'm still breathing," I said.
    I blew out a weary sigh, but tried to keep my voice light and casual. I'd had this conversation so many times, it felt like I was reading a script. The lines had been etched into my memory. Now my mother would start in on how happy Roman was. And then she'd bring up the fact that my close friend, Ryan, had recently gotten engaged as well.
    "Don't you want to be happy?" she asked, throwing her hands up in frustration. "You're already 35-years-old. At your age your father and I had been married for close to ten years, and had already had you and your sister."
    "I am happy," I said.
    "How can anybody be happy without a family--kids!"
    Here we go again , I thought. It always came back to grandkids. "You know your father and I aren't getting any younger. We won't be around forever."
    "I can give you grandkids without getting married," I said.
    She sucked in a sharp gasp. "How can you even say such things, Robert! Your father always said I spoiled you when you were younger, and now I see he may have been right. You've had your way for far too long. Now it's time for you to grow up and settle down."
    "Why don't you go bother Stella about getting married? She can give you grandkids too, you know."
    I knew I sounded petulant and immature, but there was just something about speaking with my mother that turned me back into that bratty little boy I used to be. I hated to be told what to do and when to do it, even if it was the best thing for me. I always rebelled against it, and my mother