"Please, that boy is not going anywhere without you," she says with a look in her eyes I didn't trust, but I didn't have the time to question it.
"Can I have some privacy, please?" I shoo her away before closing the bathroom door and making quick work of showering. After, I put on some clean underwear and my favorite knitted sweater with a pair of comfy jeans and my worn-out sneakers. I didn't bother washing my blonde hair last night and slept with it in a bun, so I pull it out and quickly brush it. I debate putting on some makeup; the dark circles under my honey brown eyes tell me I should, but I really don't feel like it, so I skip it. I grab my suitcase and everything else I'll need for the weekend before heading downstairs.
I'm horrified but not surprised to find Mom outside, talking to Zayne and waving a finger in his face.
Chapter Five
Vanessa
I cough loudly and then let out an awkward laugh as I rush toward Mom and Zayne. "Mom, whatever it is you're saying, just don't. Please."
"Nessie! I was just catching up with Zayne." She gives me the side eye before shaking her head and muttering, "I'm never going to get any grandbabies if you keep dressing like that."
I give her my best pissed off look and plant my hands on my hips. "We're leaving now before you say anything else to embarrass me."
Mom turns to Zayne and plants a kiss on his cheek, making him blush.
Yeah buddy. Those glasses can't hide that adorable tint on your cheeks.
"You remember what I said, young man. Take care of my daughter."
He nods and hurries away, dipping his head to hide the blush. He grabs my suitcase and loads it into the backseat before opening the passenger door for me. "Need help getting in?" he asks gruffly.
I look at the big step and frown. I was short even for an omega, and I just knew I was going to look like a clown trying to get into the truck, but I couldn't really think of a way to avoid it.
Zayne doesn't wait for my answer. He grabs me around my waist and lifts me into my seat like I weigh nothing. I yelp, scowling at him, but he just smirks. "We'll never get there if you take this long to make decisions."
I look out the window at Mom, who has the same curves I have that didn't typically allow men to pick us up like that. Zayne was big and strong, and I couldn't deny how much I liked him lifting me so easily. Mom must be following my thought process because she gives me a big smile and two thumbs up.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
"That is a disgusting thing to say to your daughter, Mom."
"It's not disgusting. It's natural and beautiful."
I turn to face Zayne with my best puppy dog eyes. "Zayne, please take me away from here. I've been traumatized enough by these people." I still throw Mom a wink and reach out to grab her hand. "Love you. I promise I'll check in."
She squeezes my hand. "You better."
Zayne closes my door, after double-checking that my seat belt is in place, and says something to Mom that makes her laugh before walking around and getting in his truck. He starts it up and backs out of the driveway as Mom waves from the porch.
"She's lost her fricking mind, I swear."
"She's always been this way, baby girl."
I shift in my seat so I can face him. "You think so? I don't remember her or my dads ever being this bad when I was still living here. The shit I heard her say last night…" I fake gag. "I'm going to need therapy until I'm eighty."
"How bad was it?"
"Bad."
He pulls onto the highway, leaving Stonybrook behind us. His one hand is holding the steering wheel while the other rests on the gearstick between us. "Can't be worse than listening to my brother-in-law singing All I want for Christmas three times last night."
I tilt my head back and laugh. "As bad as that sounds, I think I still win."
"She told me she wouldn't be upset if I sink my teeth into your neck this weekend, and if I could knock you up, she would leave everything to me. Is that worse?"
"I'm going to kill her."
