“Well, I’m glad you did. How are things going with Nate?” she digs. “I was hoping you’d bring him with you today. Cliff and I would like to meet him.”
Thank God she didn’t mention that at lunch; Colt would have jumped all over an opportunity to make a stab at me for that. “We broke up,” I tell her.
“Oh.” Her voice softens as if my statement just gave her a reason as to why I was acting strange today. “Well, you’ll meet the right one. It just takes time.”
“I know, Mom.” She’s a hopeless romantic at heart. My father treated her like shit. The best thing he ever did was leave us. I’m thankful he never tried to return. “I’m still in college.” I’m about to go into my senior year. The last thing I need is anything serious anyway. I’ve seen girls give up their entire future for a fucking dick. Yeah, I want to know how that works out for them five years down the road.
“Look at Cliff. It took a long time for me to meet him. But believe me, the wait was worth it.” She sighs dreamily, looking off into nothing. “Well, I can’t say that.” Correcting herself, she adds, “I wish I would have found him sooner for us. We’re lucky to have him and Colton in our lives.”
I roll my eyes and agree, hoping she doesn’t hear the sarcasm. “The luckiest.”
“Hey, babe—” Cliff enters the kitchen but cuts himself off when he spots me. “Raylee. This is a pleasant surprise.” He smiles at me.
For an older guy, Cliff is hot. He takes care of himself, works out, and eats healthy. He’s got that salt and pepper thing going on, over six foot tall with dark green eyes and a gorgeous smile. Just like his son. If I knew him in a different life, I’d totally fuck them both. At the same time. No questions asked.
“Don’t get too excited, dear. She just forgot her phone.” My mother laughs. “Who called you?” she asks as he places his cell in the pocket of his dress slacks.
“It was Colton.” He frowns. “I had called him earlier after he left about his car, but he didn’t answer. That was him calling me back.”
“What did he say is wrong with it?” she wonders, my mom, always concerned.
“He said it can’t be fixed.”
“What?” She laughs. “That’s silly. He paid a million dollars for that thing. What does he mean it can’t be fixed?”
Oh, so hergood boylied to them about how much his car cost? He probably doesn’t want his daddy to know how much of his trust fund he spent on it.
“I don’t know.” He sighs. “I offered to have it towed to a guy I know and have him look at it. Something has to be able to be done. He said no. That he had it taken care of.”
I snort, and they both look at me. Placing my hand on my chest, I fake cough. “Sorry, something is in my throat.”
“Here.” My mother opens the fridge door, which is made to look like a cabinet, and hands me a bottle of water. “Drink this. It’ll help.”
I don’t even open it.
“Well, if he says he has it handled …” she trails off, shrugging.
“Yeah.” He walks over to her and kisses her forehead. “I’m going to be in my study. I’ve got some work to do before dinner.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t be shy, Raylee.” He points at me. “Your mom is going crazy being here all by herself ever since you moved in with Colton and the guys.”
I bet. I’ve been living with him for three years now.
“Dinner will be ready in an hour,” my mom calls out to him as he walks down the hall.
“Well…” I push off the barstool. “I’m going to go upstairs and get my phone, and then I’m going to leave.”
“Sure you can’t join us for dinner?” Sticking her bottom lip out, she pouts, and I laugh.
“Not tonight. I’ve got plans.”Lie.
“Okay.” Walking over to me, she gives me another tight hug and whispers, “I love you.”
“Love you too, Mom.” Pulling away, I make my way upstairs and to the bathroom. My phone sits on the counter next to the sink with ten new texts and three missed calls. Tatum finally called our house earlier when I wasn’t answering my cell, worried about me. I still had it on silent from all the video notifications. Otherwise, I would have heard it ringing while Colt and I were up here earlier.
Three texts are from Nate. I don’t even open them. I’m sure there’s nothing he could possibly need to say to me that I would want to hear. I already know I’m a whore. Don’t need his reminder.
