“Well—”
“Just shut the fuck up!” I blow a breath upward in frustration after nearly growling those words. “Go be a trad wife, or whatever it is that you do, but please, stay out of my face.”
She opens her mouth again, but my phone rings. Relieved, I pull it out of my pocket and smile when I see My King flash across my screen.
“My King,” I say with a smile. Sylvie doesn’t leave like I hoped. She moves closer.
“My forever. You okay?” he asks.
“I will be if you tell me you’re on your way here.”
I know that’s not the case. I don’t know what he’s doing, but I know he’s meeting someone on the Canadian border.
“I wish, baby. I miss you, but I’ll be home tomorrow.”
“I miss you, too, and I can’t wait.”
I hear voices in the background, and part of me wonders if he’s okay.
“Is it dangerous?” I whisper so Sylvie doesn’t hear. Her nosy ass moves closer.
“I promise this isn’t.” I exhale in relief, but he said this, which means some of these trips are. “But I have to go. I’ll call you tonight.”
“Okay. I love you.”
“Forever.”
I put the phone back in my pocket, prepared to get through this dinner so I can get away from Sylvie.
“You’re in love with that thug?”
“I sure am,” I say without shame or hesitation. She opens her mouth, but shuts it at the sound of footsteps. Mom finds us in the living room.
“Time to eat.” She gestures for us to follow her. “Come on.”
“Mom, Eden thinks she’s in love with that mobster.”
I blow a breath up, and Mom misses a step at Sylvie’s declaration.
“Where is your husband, Sylvie? If you’re so damn happily married, why are you concerned about who I’m with? Get out of my face before I knock you out.” I take a step closer and shove her. She stumbles two steps before Mom comes between us.
“Sylvie, go. I need to speak to your sister.”
She stomps away like a child having a tantrum. When she’s gone, Mom puts both hands on my shoulders. Her face is unsmiling, but she’s still warm. I stare into her eyes and wait to hear her talk shit about my man.
She takes a deep breath and asks, “Are you on birth control?” Her words come out rushed. “If not, I hope you’re using condoms.” She looks around as if to ensure we’re alone. Then she pushes me inside the half bathroom that’s a few feet away and closes the door. “But I know sometimes things can get passionate and you can forget to take precautions.”
She stops speaking and raises both eyebrows as she studies me.
“Mom, that’s enough.” I try to go around her, but she leans against the door. This conversation is not unprecedented. She educated me about safe sex and took me to get birth control before I left for college, but that was the last time she discussed contraception with me. I lived with Gavin, and she never once asked if I was taking precautions.
“It’s just that when this ends, it’s best to walk away without …” She pauses, as if she’s thinking of the right word. “Complications.” She shrugs and gives me a smile that looks more like a grimace.
“Complications?” Mom nods.“Got it. Anything else?” I flare my nostrils and look away.
“Dandy, I know a fling with a bad boy looks appealing, but you have to be realistic.”
“Mom, you and Dad have only ever dated each other.” They’ve been together since junior high. She doesn’t know what it’s like to date anyone other than my dad.
