I don’t know how long I can believe it for.
But right now, it feels true enough to voice.
I’m not the reason Justin, Aaron, and Cody aren’t here.
Travis holds me tighter, and Annette chuckles bitterly.
“Sure, honey,” she says, her voice dripping with fake sweetness, just like her cheap perfume. “If that’s what you want to believe.”
Before I can retort, the front door swings open, and Piper sticks her head out. She glances to me quickly, then narrows her eyes at Annette. “Who are you? What’s going on?”
“This is Justin’s mom, Annette,” I tell Piper, and her jaw drops.
“Hello,” Annette says politely, but Piper is having none of it.
“You,” she snarls, stepping outside. “What the hell are you doing here?!”
My eyes widen at Piper’s outburst, and so do Annette’s.
“I was just?—”
“Get out of here. Now.” Piper points to the parking lot. “If you’re not gone in five seconds, I’m calling the police. You’re not welcome here.”
Annette is as dumbfounded at Piper’s reaction as I am. “Excuse me?” she snaps.
“Now. You come back here, and we’re filing a restraining order. Don’t fuck with me. My mate is a lawyer.”
The door cracks open and Maeve pokes her head out. “Yeah! You’re making the cats upset. Get out of here, lady.”
I choke out a disbelieving laugh at Annette’s offended expression.
“And if I ever hear about you bothering her again,” Travis adds, his voice low and gritty, “the cops won’t even be able to help you. Do you understand?”
I don’t condone threats, but when Travis does it, it’s sexy as hell.
Annette looks between Travis, me, Piper, and Maeve, her eyes wide with fear. “Horrible people,” she mumbles, then hurries away, wrapping her black sweater around herself.
“Fucking bitch,” Piper snaps, while Maeve looks at me.
“Who the hell was that?” she asks. “We could smell that awful perfume from inside. The cats were losing their minds.
“The devil,” Piper says, her face stony. “You just witnessed the literal devil, Maeve.”
“Oh. Wow,” Maeve breathes.
We stay outside and watch Annette drive away, and once her car is out of view, the adrenaline fades. I let out awhooshof air and my hands begin to shake.
“Hey, hey,” Travis says, and I turn to him. “Are you okay?” his brown eyes are laced with concern as he cradles my face.
“Yeah,” I mutter. “I just wasn’t expecting to be welcomed back by her. That’s the first time I’ve seen her since Justin died.”
“And it will be the last time,” he vows.
“That threat was a bit much,” I admit, and he smirks.
“Yeah. I know people like her. She talks tough, but the minute she’s confronted and someone finally stands up to her, she’ll back down. She’s spooked enough to not bother you again.”
“Let’s get you inside,” Piper adds. “Maeve, get the kitten therapy ready.”
