“Sounds about right.”
The doorbell rang, and Nyx went to answer it.
I took a deep breath, preparing myself for the extra energy that came along with my mother.
Okay, Skye, you can do this. Everything will be fine.
Except, when the door opened, it wasn’t my mother. It was Ocean, and he looked heated.
“Yo,” he snapped, shoving his way through the door. He didn’t even look my way. He walked straight to Trace and Shade. “What the fuck? You had one job.”
I wasn’t sure which one of them he was talking to, but whoever it was, he was pissed.
I nibbled on my bottom lip, desire vibrating beneath my skin. I couldn’t think straight.
“Seriously?” Nyx said, glaring at me.
“What?”
“I thought you decided you were going to let this thing with you and Ocean go.”
“I am.”
“It doesn’t look like it. You literally cooed when he walked past you.”
“I did not.”
“You definitely did.”
Trace lifted his hands as Ocean stood in front of him. “Hey, don’t look at me. Blame your big mouth ass brother.”
Shade shrugged. “Shit, I didn’t know it was supposed to be a secret. I heard Trace talking about it, and Nyx asked about it, so I told her.”
“What are y’all talking about?” I finally stepped in.
“Nothing,” Ocean said before shoving Shade and Trace toward the balcony. “Outside.”
The doorbell rang again, and my eyes snapped across the room, reminding me of what I was about to deal with.
I knew it was my mother.
This wasn’t how I planned for her to meet Ocean. Hell, she wasn’t supposed to meet him at all. If she caught even a hint that I was involved with him, she’d be all up in my business, digging where she didn’t belong.
I groaned just as Nyx opened the door.
The moment my mother stepped inside, the energy in the room shifted. Her dark brown skin glowed effortlessly, framed by long, straight hair that fell full down her back, every strand in place. She was dressed in a crisp cream suit, pressed like it had come straight from the cleaners. As always, she was put together, polished, and ready to give her two cents where it wasn’t needed.
“Oh my God, I’m so glad you’re okay.” She yanked me into her arms, then stepped back to look me over. “Did anyone hurt you?”
“No, mama, I’m fine.”
“Well, what happened? Where were you?”
“It’s a long story.”
She gripped my hand and pulled me over to the couch. “Well, I’ve got nothing but time. I’ll be here for a while.”
“A while?” I blurted, my eyes widening.
