The words land like a stone in still water. I watch the ripples spread across her face—confusion, then suspicion, then something harder.
"Someone," she repeats flatly. "A man."
"Yes."
"And you've been with him this whole time? At a cabin in the middle of nowhere?"
"It's not like that?—"
"Then what IS it like?" Her voice rises. "You disappear for two weeks with some stranger, no phone calls, no texts, nothing! I've been worried sick, Jade. I almost called the police!"
"I should have called sooner. I know. But I'm okay. I'm safe."
"Are you?" She wipes at her eyes, and I realize she's been crying. "Because from where I'm sitting, this sounds exactly like what I've always warned you about."
"Mom—"
"Some man sweeps you off your feet, isolates you from everyone who loves you, and suddenly you forget how to pick up a phone?" She shakes her head. "I've seen this before, Jade. I've lived it."
I know she's talking about Olive and Nicholas. About the history that haunts her even now.
"This is different," I say quietly.
"Is it? How?"
"I..." I don't have an answer. Because maybe it's not different at all. Maybe I'm fooling myself just like she thinks I am.
"Whois he?" Mom demands. "What's his name? What does he do?"
My heart pounds. I can't tell her. Not now. Not when she's already this upset. If she finds out it's a Crawford, that it's Nicholas Crawford's son, she’ll never forgive me.
"I'm not ready to talk about that yet."
"Jade—"
"Mom, please." My voice cracks. "I just need some time to figure this out. I promise I'm safe and I'll come home soon. But I need you to trust me."
"Trust you?" She laughs bitterly. "You want me to trust you when you won't even tell me who you're with? When you've been lying to me for weeks?"
"I haven't been lying?—"
"Lying by omission is still lying."
The words cut deep because she's right. I have been lying. I'm lying right now, keeping Phoenix's identity hidden, protecting him, or maybe protecting myself, from the fallout I know is coming.
"I'm sorry," I whisper. "I know this isn't fair to you. But I need more time."
Mom is quiet for a long moment. When she speaks again, her voice is cold in a way I've never heard before.
"Fine. Take your time. But when this all falls apart, and it will, Jade, it always does, don’t say I didn't warn you."
"Mom—"
"I have to go. Call me when you're ready to be honest with me."
The screen goes black.
I stare at my phone, my hands shaking. She didn't hang up on me exactly, but it feels like something between us has cracked.
