Page 101 of Bone’s Choice

Hazel smiled. “Yeah. See you around, Bone.” Then she disappeared behind the curtain.

Just fucking disappeared.

The curtain fell back into place and I stood there.

Hazel hummed behind the curtain and I just stared at the shower curtain like it had personally offended me.

That was it? I was leaving after spending the night in her bed, and she was humming?

I shook my head.

Good. That was good. Exactly what I wanted. No attachment. No expectations. No bullshit.

Perfect.

So why the fuck was I still standing in her bathroom?

I turned around and walked out. The hallway was quiet except for the shower running behind me.

Last night had done what it was supposed to do.

I’d wanted Hazel. I’d had Hazel. Now I could get back to normal.

I reached the front door and grabbed the knob.

Hazel wasn’t going to come running down the hallway after me, and I didn’t want her to.

I wasn’t going to spend all fucking day thinking about Hazel anymore. Wasn’t going to wonder what she was doing. Wasn’t going to find excuses to stop at Ma’s. Wasn’t going to show up at Bing’s alone at eleven-thirty at night like some asshole chasing a woman.

I was done chasing.

I swung my leg over my bike. My eyes went back to Hazel’s house.

“Hurt her and I’ll kill you myself, Bone.”

Jesus fucking Christ.

I turned my head. Ma sat on her front porch in her rocking chair like she’d been waiting all morning for this exact moment.

She had a coffee mug in one hand, her legs were crossed. She wore a bright pink robe covered in black flowers, and her hair was piled on top of her head.

She looked way too fucking pleased with herself.

I slid my sunglasses on. “Morning, Ma.”

“Morning,” she replied.

I glanced at Hazel’s house, then back at her.

No point pretending. Ma wasn’t an idiot. She knew where my bike had been all night. Probably knew exactly what time I’d pulled into Hazel’s driveway too.

“Who says I’m gonna do the heartbreaking?”

Ma stared at me over the rim of her mug, then she laughed. Actually fucking laughed. “Yeah,” she called. “You might be right about that one.” She took another sip of coffee. “Drive safe.”

“Love you too, Ma.”

She smiled. “Love you, baby.”