“What?” I paused with my head still buried in my shirt. “Who?”
“I’m pretty sure your husband has a security guard standing by the door like a bouncer at a club. Do you think Erin will actually bounce when he throws her out?”
I groaned. I had to get out there ASAP.
I quickly pulled my shirt on and grabbed a random pair of shorts. “Only come out if you hear screams. Or better yet, once the front door closes. Whichever happens first.”
“Gotcha. And don’t let her walk all over you, please.”
I buttoned the fly and gave her a sardonic look. “I really doubt Mal will let that happen.”
“I’m more worried about what you’ll let happen.” Paige walked toward me to wrap her arms around me and held me tight for a moment. “I’m so glad you’re still here. I would’ve been so lost if anything happened to you. I love you so much.”
Tears welled in my eyes for a second, but I determinedly blinked them away. “I love you too, chica.”
“Once your dysfunctional family reunion is over, I’ll cook breakfast for you all. Scrambled eggs in observance of your currently flushing uterus?”
I rolled my eyes with a laugh. “You’re the best kinda of crazy.”
“You know it!” Paige yelled at my retreating back.
I got to the end of the hall and paused for a second to take a deep breath.
I’d never realized how much anxiety I felt when I had to face my mom. Or maybe this time was different, given all that’d happened.
Straightening my shoulders, I calmly entered the room.
Chapter 27
Still Saylor
“Saylor!” my mom shrieked, jumping up from the sofa and racing over to me. She held my shoulders as her eyes searched me. “You’re safe. Thank god.”
Then she enveloped me in a hug that felt so different from the one Paige had just given me. Mom’s thin arms tightened around me like a python as her sharp shoulder punched me in the throat.
Suddenly I felt so cold, despite the warm California morning sun pouring into the room from the glass wall next to us.
“Mom. It’s good to see you too. Is Alan in the car?”
“Oh, he couldn’t come on such short notice. They needed him at the bank. Kind of an all-hands sort of thing.” She waved her hands in emphasis.
Given that Alan and Trent had worked at the same bank, I understood—kinda. But it was his stepdaughter who’d been held hostage. I guess it wasn’t a big surprise I didn’t rank an actual in person meeting.
It still hurt. But not as much as I would’ve thought.
I gave my mom a vague smile then crossed the room to sit in Mal’s lap. I needed to feel his arms around me. I didn’t even have to tell him as much. He just knew.
After a beat, Mom followed me and sat on the sofa opposite us with an uncomfortable expression.
“So, how are things?” I asked when it became clear she wasn’t going to be the one to talk first.
She gave a weird sounding laugh. “Horrible actually. I’ve had to face some harsh truths lately and…” She sighed and wiped at her cheeks. “I’m just…I’m so, so, sorry, Saylor.”
I shifted on Mal’s lap. I ached to cross the space and hug my mom for real this time, but it still didn’t feel safe.Shedidn’t feel safe. “Okay.”
“Okay?” she echoed, tears heavy in her voice. “Seriously? That’s all you have to say?”
“Watch your tone,” Mal barked, making me jump and look over my shoulder at him. “Saylor isn’t the one in the wrong here. I told you I won’t put up with any bullshit victim blaming, and this was exactly what I meant. Knock it off or get the fuck out.”
