“I’m sure you’re eager to get back home, but I’ll keep my fingers crossed that I get to see you again this weekend.” Mama Mae gave her a hug then Bess climbed into the truck, leaving me alone with the woman who’d raised me.
“She’s very sweet, Trenton.” Mama Mae reached up and patted me on the cheek.
I almost told her I was just keeping an eye on Bess and there wasn’t any more to it, but I stopped myself. Whatever was happening between the two of us was special. I wasn’t going to try to downplay it. “She really is. I didn’t mean for anything to happen.”
“Love’s what happens when you’re making other plans,” Mama Mae said. “Some people go looking for it and never find it. Those of us who are lucky enough to experience love have to do everything we can to hold onto it and protect it. You rarely get a second chance.”
She was right, as always. “Bess is amazing. She’s got such a good heart, and I don’t think there’s a mean bone in her body.”
“What is it, son? Something’s bothering you, I can tell.”
“What if I’m not good at it?” Damn, it was hard to put that out there. I’d battled with that fear my whole life. Mama Mae had shown me nothing but love, but my heart had been damaged long before I came to live with her.
“Not good at what?” Her brow wrinkled. “Are you worried you won’t be good at loving someone?”
I nodded.
“Oh, sweet boy, you experienced so much pain at such a young age, but you’ve got so much love to give. All you need to do is listen to your heart.” She held out her arms and pulled me into one of her hugs.
I held on a little longer than necessary. She always had the right answer.
“Thanks, Mama Mae.”
“You two take care of each other, you hear me?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I pressed a kiss to her soft cheek then bounded down the steps to take Bess back to the cottage.
CHAPTER10
BESS
Over the next few days,I saw a different side of Triton. He opened up and told me about growing up in Broken Bend and the time he spent in the military. We spent most of our time loving on each other, but he also dragged me out of bed and showed me his favorite places around town. He treated me to a cupcake at the bakery and a shot of tequila at the tequila bar next door that loosened my tongue a lot.
When I found out one of the Calhoun brothers and his wife owned and operated a lavender farm outside of town, Triton spent hours next to me while I wandered up and down the rows of beautiful purple flowers. He even drove me by the trailer where he’d lived as a kid. My heart ached for the boy he’d been and how his parents had failed him. I’d been falling for him a little bit at a time since the day we met, but that was the moment that pushed me over the edge. I didn’t want our time together to ever come to an end.
My parents had been checking in every day to make sure I was okay. I hadn’t answered my phone the day before because hearing their voices reminded me that my time with Triton was temporary. It’s not like I could move in with him when we got back to Maplewood or that he’d want to come over to my parents’ house and go back to just holding hands. I doubted my dad would even let him through the front door when he found out we’d crossed the line. What we had between us would have to come to an end.
So, when my phone vibrated and bounced around on the table, even though I didn’t want to answer it, I felt obligated to pick it up.
“Hello.”
“Bess.” Even with one syllable, I could tell my dad was irritated. “I left a voicemail, and you never called us back last night. Your mother’s been worried.”
“I’m sorry. We were watching a movie and by the time it was over I thought it was too late to call.” That wasn’t a bald-faced lie. We had watched a movie. Kind of. It played in the background while I gave Triton my very first blow job.Thathad been a learning experience.
“It’s time for you to come home. I talked to the sheriff and they’re just as eager as we are to put an end to any illegal activity going on around here. They’re installing cameras later on this afternoon so they can keep watch around the clock.” He sounded so sure that he was doing the right thing.
“What do you think is going to happen when the bad guys realize you’ve gone to the police?” I looked over at Triton. He could only hear my side of the conversation, but it was enough to have him shaking his head. He picked up his phone and stepped out onto the porch to make a call.
“I don’t appreciate your tone, young lady. You’re coming home today if I have to drive down there and bring you back myself.”
“I’m sorry.” I’d never sassed my parents before. “Triton’s on the phone checking in with the club. I’ll see what he finds out and let you know what he thinks is best.”
“What’s really going on down there?” Dad’s tone shifted from demanding to suspicious.
“Nothing.” I had to protect Triton. If my father thought there was something happening between us, I wasn’t sure what he’d do.
Dad sighed. “Your place is here with us.”
