Mom: The waiter at the diner…did you say something to him?
Aspen: Like what?
Her phone rang, and she had to work up the strength to answer it because she knew the second she did, the great day would be tarnished.
One breath, and she put the cell to her ear. “Mom—”
“I went back to the diner this evening to talk to him, and he didn’t want anything to do with me.”
“How does this involveme?”
“Isaw youtalking to him on your way back from the bathroom today. Did you tell him lies about me? Is it because you want him for yourself?”
Aspen dropped her head into her hand. She could almost hear the pop of the bubble that had been her magical day. For a split second, she’d thought she and her mother might be able to have a semblance of a normal relationship…now that second had ended, and reality was hitting her smack in the face.
“No, Mom. He asked me if we’d like any cake for the table before he sold the last piece, and I said no.”
“You’re lying.”
Deep breaths, Aspen. “No, I’m not. But Iamhanging up.”
“Don’t even think about—”
She ended the call, tipped her head back, and closed her eyes. It would be easy to cry right now. But she didn’t want to cry. She wanted to rage at the unfairness of it all. That she had to deal with this while others didn’t.
Yeah, anger. That felt safer. Anger at her mother for not seeking help for her mental health when Aspen had suggested it so many times. Anger at the universe for giving her a mother who was so mentally unstable.
Her phone beeped with another text.
Mom: You’re a slut! You know that?
The tears once again pushed at her eyes.
With fast steps, she marched toward the front door, tugged it open and threw her cell outside. When the door closed, she laid her head against the wood.
It was always going to be like this. Her mother was always going to be mentally ill, and Aspen would never have the relationship with her that she craved. She just had to accept it and move on. To stop wanting better.
A few deep, calming breaths later, she pulled the door open, crossed the lawn and lifted her phone. Once back inside, she wanted to slam the door closed after her. She didn’t. Because then Jesse would come find her. He’d want to know what was wrong. And for some reason, she felt embarrassed about her mother. Maybe because he had such a perfect family. Maybe because she’d just told him what a great day she’d had and now felt like an idiot.
She closed the door quietly, then headed to her room, promising herself she’d never make the mistake of trusting her mother again.
Once she was in bed, she lay there staring at the ceiling, emotions rolling through her. Frustration. Sadness. And anger. But mostly anger at herself for thinking things could be different.
It took her a long time to fall asleep. Too long. She was just drifting off when a hand suddenly covered her mouth, causing her eyes to pop open to the outline of a large male figure standing over her.
CHAPTER 12
Aspen’s heart crashed into her throat as a scream built in her chest. She was a second away from kicking the sheets back and clawing at the man’s eyes when he spoke.
“It’s me.”
Jesse? It was just Jesse. The air rushed from her chest. She wasn’t being attacked. She was safe.
His head lowered, his face finally coming into view. “There’s someone in the house.”
Her skin chilled, her pulse once again speeding up.
“I’m going to remove my hand,” he whispered. “But I need you to not make a sound.”
