“Fuck,” I whisper. “Let’s go.” But the mountain of a man doesn’t move. He stands there as if he’s ready for a confrontation.
“Eden Rose!” my mom yells. Mom never yells. When she’s angry, she lowers her voice and snaps her fingers at us. The last time she yelled was when Sylvie decided to attend community college instead of a four-year university. “Don’t take another step.”
She charges across the driveway. My dad follows her, but his steps aren’t as rushed as hers. Dad is the most protective of my parents, and I wonder if he’s beyond angry, just like my mother.
“What the fuck is this?” She gestures from me to Rip. She cusses, but never at her children. “Oscar called.”
Oscar’s always been a bitch. Rip doesn’t say a word. He doesn’t react at all.
“I was going to tell you that—”
“Tell us what?” my mom asks, interrupting me.
“Calm down, Serena,” Dad says. He puts a hand on her shoulder and rubs it.
She shrugs him off. “Don’t tell me to calm down. Our daughter is with this criminal.”
“He’s not a criminal,” I say in Rip’s defense. “And I’m a grown woman, Mom. I can date who I want.”
“Grown-ass woman who is living in my house for free because she’s broke. I know you’ve been lying to us, and now you’ve taken up with him.” She points at Rip.
“The name’s Ripley King.” He extends his hand to my mother.
She does not shake it. “Leave my daughter alone and get off my property.”
“Thorny, get what you need. I’ll wait for you.”
“Mom, I will—”
“Let’s take it inside,” Dad says, interrupting me. “You too.” He gestures at Rip.
Mom looks at my father as if he just betrayed her.
“I don’t want him in my house,” she says.
“Mom, you’re doing too much. Please, stop. He’s done nothing to you and has only been good to me,” I say in Rip’s defense. “Let’s talk about it tomorrow.”
Chapter 32
Rip
I stand to the side while Eden and her parents talk. Her mother is animated, but Eden is standing her ground. Her father stands between them, then Eden stomps away and tells me she’ll be right back.
Her mother goes inside and slams the door behind her. Her mom’s reaction to us is the least of my concerns. I couldn’t give a shit if she likes me, but she’s not going to upset her daughter.
Rose approaches me.
“I suggest you get your wife under control,” I say without looking up.
“Don’t talk about my wife,” he hisses.
“I’m not. I’m talking about you. Handle it. Tonight. I don’t want Eden to be upset, so get your house in order.”
“How the fuck am I supposed to control her mother’s feelings? I can’t. I’ll talk to her. You can just leave our daughter alone.”
“I already told you that’s not going to happen. If I could leave her alone, I wouldn’t be here.”
“What the fuck kind of cryptic response is that?”
