"Hours," I repeated.
"We'll take our time getting to the meal." My mother beamed. My stomach thudded. "I have so many wedding ideas to share with you two. Remind me to bring my binder with all my inspo collages."
"You're gonna need a wheelbarrow for that thing," Rita yelled.
My mother reached for me, her hands gripping my shoulders. "It's so good to see you happy." With a glance between me and Audrey, she asked, "Are you all settled in? I hope you know you're free to move things around in my room to make yourselves comfy."
"We're not taking your room," I said. "I've already told you this."
Mom's eyes flashed. "I'm not letting you spend money on a hotel."
"You know money isn't an issue for me," I replied.
"I know you've spent more than enough of it on me and you have a family to be thinking about now. And there's plenty of space here." She swept her arm out and knocked a wind chime into motion. She leaned close to Audrey, saying, "Did you know my son bought me this house? Moved me out here when I finished treatment, and furnished the whole place. Did he tell you about that?"
Audrey glanced toward me, a knowing smile cutting across her face. Mom probably read that as Audrey being well aware of the lengths I'd gone to, to give her some post-cancer comfort. But I knew better and I knew that smile meantYou've always been such a fucking softie.
"Did he tell you about the navy? He doesn't like to talk about it but they've been trying to hire him for years." She motioned for Audrey to come in closer like she had some classified information to share. "But they can't afford him so they fly him in every few months to fix the problems no one else can figure out."
"While you're great for my ego, Mom, that isn't?—"
"He turned out all right, didn't he?" Audrey wrapped an arm around Mom, pulling her into her side for a hug. "You raised a good one, Janet."
My mother was already misty-eyed. Of course. "We raised each other," she said.
"Then you both did a great job," Audrey said, patting Mom's arm.
"I'd love it if you'd stay," Mom said. She thought she was capitalizing on the moment but I saw the game Audrey was playing. I didn't know her next move but I trusted it. "It just makes me so happy to have everyone here."
"We're thrilled to be here with you. Finally! After the wackiest travel experience of our lives." She glanced up at me with a cotton candy smile. "The thing is," Audrey went on, dropping her voice to an intimate whisper, "we could really use some privacy. After the past few days with everything being so hectic…" She gave a coy shrug. "I hope you understand."
My whole body responded to the soft drag of those words. I felt it across my shoulder blades and down my spine, at the base of my throat and behind my zipper. I didn't even think before wrapping an arm around Audrey's waist, pulling her away from Mom and intomyside, my hand settling high on her hip. I traced the edge of her panties through the thin cotton of her dress and watched with a good deal of satisfaction as pink colored her cheeks.
It took a second but recognition dawned for my mother. "Oh.Oh, of course," she said, a hand on her brow. "Of course you'd need your own space."
I dipped my chin and brushed my lips over Audrey's shoulder. It wasn't necessary, but it wasn't necessary for her to imply she wanted to be railed straight through a mattress tonight either. And the dainty, ribbon-tie straps on this dresshadn't stopped filling my head with filth since finding her outside the farm supply store.
"You'll see plenty of us this week," Audrey promised, shifting toward her and out of my hold. Such a crafty little princess. "We won't be strangers."
"Like I'd let that happen," Mom chirped. "Stay right there. I'll be back in a dash." Before I could add anything, she flitted off to her bedroom.
An arm's length away now, Audrey whispered, "Do you think Gary's going to want to take you to baseball games and teach you how to change a flat tire? Since your mom is soft launching him as your new dad?"
"Bite your tongue, Saunders. There's abinderofcollageswaiting for you," I whispered back.
She stepped slightly closer and I picked up the scent of her shampoo. I didn't hate it. "That horror show is waiting for us both."
I glanced back inside to where Rita was busy slicing fruit and chucking it into the blender. "Do you think we can sweet-talk Rita into coming along?"
Audrey crossed her arms over her chest. Her elbow grazed my bicep. I wanted— I didn't know what I wanted. All I knew was that I was deeply aware of her. Every move, every word, every glance. "Wearen't sweet-talking anyone. I just maneuvered my way out of feeling up your momandslipped the noose on staying here. Next one's on you."
I pushed a hand through my hair. "Fuck."
chapter twenty-seven
Jude
Today's vocabulary word: downplay
