“I didn’t even go looking,” he said in frustration, straightening and hanging his head. “I don’t have a fucking Harley. Grant, Rory, and I stayed at Derby’s clubhouse.”
Mom frowned. “I see.”
“No, you don’t!” CJ blared, stalking around her and storming into the kitchen.
“Then tell me what I’m missing,” she said, right behind him.
He turned and faced her. “I didn’t even do that right. I didn’t want those fucking girls to touch me. All I could think about was Harley. I remembered I hadn’t gone to see Molly yesterday. I mourned her, Mom. Days before we found her, I accepted that she was gone and I’m so fucking happy she’s back, but my connection to her isn’t there. Why the fuck can’t I get Harley out of my head? Unless my cock is defective? Or is it me? Rorywantedto stay, but I made him come in Derby’s office with me. I don’t know if those girls are tested for STDs. The last thing he needed was a dripping dick.”
Disgust deepened Mom’s frown.
Blowing out a heavy breath, CJ snapped his mouth shut. “I’m sorry. I-I didn’t mean that.”
Combing her fingers through her hair, Mom nodded to the breakfast bar. “Coffee or tea?”
She looked as exhausted as he felt, yet adrenaline pumped through him. Mainly from the search for Wally, Jr. and the events prior to Dad leaving him behind. “I don’t know.”
“A beer?”
“It’s not even noon yet. I’ve never fucking drank this early in my goddamn life. You’ve neverletme.”
“I’m trying very hard to support you, CJ,” Mom snapped, over his bullshit, “but the first thing you need to do is control your emotions.”
“How? I want those motherfuckers dead. One hurt, and terrorized, my cousin and the other two fucked with Harley. My girl—”
His nothing. Harley, like Molly, wasRyan’sconcern, no matter what CJ thought that motherfucker did.
“Nothing. Never mind,” he said tiredly. “She’s my nothing, Mom. She belongs to Ryan. They’ve had sex.” He thought of Harley, Molly, and Jaleena. “I’m going to die a fucking virgin because the only person I’ve ever lost control with is motherfucking Ember.”
Narrowing her eyes, Mom stiffened. “Ember LeBan?”
Fuck. “She isn’t the only girl with the name Ember.”
Mom glowered at him. “She’s the onlywomanwe know with that name.”
“Mom—”
“How didyoulose control withher, if you’re still a virgin?”
Clenching his jaw, he walked to the table and sat. Mom’s thoughtful expression embarrassed him even before she gasped. She’d fucking figured out what happened.
Heat suffused his entire body, he was so mortified.
“I like Ember, Mom. Please don’t make her suffer any repercussions. I’m begging you.”
“Did this occur on school grounds?”
CJ flinched at her cold tone, but he shook his head. “At J’s. The night Jaleena stormed off,” he admitted miserably. “I’m sorry.”
Offering a curt nod, Mom drew in a deep breath and then huffed. “Your s-sex life is no concern of mine,” she bit out as if she hated to say those words. “Just make sure you use protection.”
“It was a fucking blowjob, Mom!”
She huffed, her face and neck reddening. CJ wanted to believe she was embarrassed, but judging by her ice-cold blue eyes, she was fucking madder than a motherfucker.
“Mom—”
She raised a hand. “A moment,” she pushed out, then visibly gritted her fucking teeth. “If that woman so much as looks at you in my presence, she’s fired. Am I clear?”
