The worry that she was having a nightmare alone was eating away at me.I’d almost cracked and gone home in the middle of the night to check on her.But after the way I’d yelled at her, I didn’t think I’d be welcomed in her bed.I wouldn’t blame her either.I’d handled that poorly.
“Hmm,” she said, raising her brows as if she didn’t believe me.
I’d seen that look on her face a thousand times in my life.
“I’m not,” I repeated.
She reached over and picked up her cup of tea.“I see.So, the friend of Calvin’s you’ve been spending so much time with means nothing.”
My brows snapped together.How the hell did she know about Elsie?We weren’t supposed to tell her.
“Oh, don’t look so surprised.Your father has never kept a secret from me long.It’s a good thing Oz hadn’t told him about the baby until the day they told me, or he’d have cracked by nightfall and spilled his soul.I’ve known about y’all helping Calvin’s friend since the day after she arrived.”
Jesus, Dad was weak.
“And you didn’t mention it because?”I asked.
She shrugged.“Not something your dad wanted me bothered with, and honestly, I felt so bad that I didn’t want to think about it or worry.”
“So, Oz knows that you know too?”
She shook her head.“No.”
“Kash?”
“No.Just you.”
“Then how do you know about me spending time with Elsie?”
She smirked at me.“Your father.Oz tells him things.He tells me.I’ve been waiting until I had a chance to ask you about her.It’s my nightly entertainment.Hearing what you did with her that day.But you’re here and have been for days.She’s there.”
I met her pointed look.
“Just a friends thing, Mom,” I told her.
“Mmhmm,” she replied with amusement in her eyes.
“She is.Stop making it into something more.I’m not like my brothers.Relationships aren’t for me.”
“And why do you think that?”
I sighed.“It’s a lot of work and drama that I don’t want.I like variety.”
She rolled her eyes and set her cup down.“You do, do you?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Yet you’ve only been around Elsie for weeks with no complaining about not being able to go out and visit with that variety.To hear Oz tell it, you are rather happy with the situation.”
Oz and his fucking mouth.
“When did Oz become a gossiping old biddy?”
Mom laughed and picked her book back up.“Go back to Bane’s.Sleep in your room.As much as I love you and love having you here, you are smothering me.Let me read my book in peace and go apologize to that girl for screaming at her.”
How the fuck?Oz needed a goddamn life.
“Besides, I’m sure your cousin would love to see you while he’s visiting.”
