“Hey, you don’t have to see her if you don’t want to. You control what happens now.”
She lifted a shoulder. “She drove or flew all the way here, though.”
“Who gives a shit? She’s been pressuring you for weeks to get back with that punk ass bitch. And now she swans in all concerned for your wellbeing? Where was she when his bookie clocked you in that parking garage? Fuck that. Fuck her. Fuck.Her.”
“Whoa-kay.” Saylor dropped her purse and pressed a hand against my chest. “I get that you’re feeling a certain type of way about my mom, and believe me I am too, but somehow I think all this—” she gestured at my clenched jaw and fists. “Isn’t about my mom. What did they call it in my psychology class? Misplaced—no, displaced anger.”
“Who the fuck cares? She screwed you over, and I don’t want her in my fucking house.”
She sighed. “I guess I can meet her at a restaurant or something then.”
“Seriously? You’re not going anywhere, except to the police station to give your statement this afternoon. And even then, we’re taking at least two security guards with us.”
She gave me this look like I was the crazy one. “Right. So where do you want me to meet my mom then? If she can’t come in here, and I can’t go out there…?”
“Fuck.” I huffed in annoyance. “Fine.” I lifted my cell and tapped the speaker button. “Send her in, but have someone standing by to eject her when shit hits the fan. Because it will.”
I rolled my eyes at Saylor, but she just laughed.
“I love how you think ahead. Thank you, Daddy.” She went up on her toes and pressed a sweet kiss against my cheek. “I love how you’re always looking out for me.”
Well, not always.
She shook her head. Apparently I didn’t even need to say it out loud to get that across. “Do not take that on. We can’t go back. Only forward. So take a note from Miss Swift and shake it off.”
The doorbell rang.
Saylor stooped to grab her purse and moved to close the bathroom door. “Give me a few and please, please, please don’t kill my mom in the next three minutes.”
“No promises,” I muttered as I turned away.
“I heard that!” Saylor shouted through the door.
I grinned at her sassiness the whole way down the hallway.
“What is going on?” Paige asked, popping her wild head of hair out her bedroom door.
“Saylor’s mom has arrived.” My tone implied that the devil was on our doorstep.
“Shit.” Paige’s eyes widened and she moved to close the door.
“Wait! Do you have any tampons?”
“What the—” she opened her door again and gave me a look like I was insane.
“Saylor is in need. I also need to organize a delivery of supplies for her. Do you know what kind to buy?”
She nodded. “Yeah, sure. I can take care of that.”
“No, just text me the details. I want to do it.”
“Aww. That’s so sweet.” Paige darted back into her room.
I continued down the hall. A beat later, I heard her door open again, then she scampered down the hall away from me to my bedroom and Saylor.
I tapped at the security panel next to the door as the doorbell rang a third time. I ripped the door open before the panel turned green and a screeching alarm joined Saylor’s mom’s bitching.
“Finally!” She scoffed, pushing past me. “Saylor!” her mom shouted.
