Seven

Erik and my dad actually got along really well. I wasn’t too surprised. Erik had the type of personality that meshed well with almost anyone. They spent time together in my dad’s office while my mother shot her death ray stare at me in the living room.

Finally, I caved. “Can you just yell at me and get it over with?”

“I don’t have anything to say to you.” Cold, silent treatment. That was far worse than her usual vicious remarks. She was beyond pissed.

“If I had told you the truth, would you have let me go?”

“Brittany, you’re eighteen, almost nineteen. I can’t control you,” she said with such innocence I almost fell for her victim act.

“That’s not what I asked.”

Audrey started fluffing pillows as though they had wronged her in a previous life. “I don’t understand what kind of a family invites a girl they have never met to stay with them for over a week.”

“Technically Kristen’s family never met me, and you didn’t question it.”

“It’s different with girls. She’s your sorority sister. You’ll eventually move into the Delta Sig house.” I will? Since when? “But staying with him… I don’t like it.”

“Okay. But, do you like Erik?” I didn’t need her approval. But I still wanted it.

“I’ve known him for an hour.”

“You can get a sense of him.”

Audrey rolled her eyes. So that’s where I get it from. “He seems like he has his head on his shoulders. He tried to do the right thing, although I’m not a fan of the pop-in.”

“I know—”

“I also see the way he looks at you. He’s completely in love with you. Just be careful with that.”

I laughed sarcastically. Only she would view love as something to proceed with caution. “Why would I have to be careful with a good guy that loves me?”

Audrey sighed, snapping one hand to her hip. “Because when you’re that much in love, it’s hard to see the world clearly. You act on impulse.”

I didn’t really know if she was talking about Erik or me. Either way, I nodded and remained silent. I wanted to crack open her skull and untangle all of the riddles. I craved straight answers and didn’t want to spend my days deciphering her codes. She looked past me, as if conjuring images from her youth. Then it hit me… She had her dream career, and she had given it all away to be with my father. Was her decision to marry him an impulse? Something she regretted?

“Is that how you and dad felt?”

She didn’t answer. Instead, she walked over to the hall closet and took out the vacuum. “Finish cleaning up in here, I need to lie down.”

I was able to steal Erik away from my dad long enough to go for a walk. I pointed out Jaime’s home and offered to show him the infamous tree house. He took my hand in his, brushed his lips against the back of my hand and told me to lead the way.

“So, popping in uninvited… not the best idea you’ve ever had,” I said, putting it out there.

“So, lying to me and your parents… not the best idea you’ve ever had,” he fired back.

“Touché. I know I couldn’t stop you if I tried. It’s in your nature to be gallant. Grand gestures are what you thrive on.” We were finally off my property and entering the woods when Erik brought up the inevitable.

“So, your mom…”

“I know, evil bitch,” I said dismissing the conversation before it began.

“I was going to say stunningly beautiful.”

I stopped dead in my tracks and looked at him. The boys at school used to talk about how attractive my mother was. It was bad enough hearing it from those jerks. I didn’t need my partner in crime jumping in on their MILF campaign. Jaime would never have said anything like that. “Did you seriously check out my mom when you came over?”

His face grew pale as he quickly assessed that he had selected the worst possible choice of words to string together to formulate his sentence. “No, I didn’t check her out.” Erik looked like he had to dig his way out of a hole. “I mean, it’s hard not to notice. She just doesn’t look like a typical mom.”

“You mean she doesn’t look like me.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. You have your own look entirely. A look I freaking love. She’s very…” He paused to think about the right word. I waited, hoping it was something I could live with. “Glamorous,” he decided.

“Glamorous,” I echoed.

“What does she do?” he asked, trying to steer the conversation away from me wanting to shoot daggers out of my eyes.

“Self-medicates and naps a lot. She’s very similar to a cat; she struts around, whacks something you care about out of her way, then passes out for a few hours.”

Erik just looked at me in disapproval.

I rolled my eyes. “She used to be a model. But having me sort of destroyed her career. It’s a long, sad story where I became her target of loathing forever.”

Erik looked like he was letting my words register. “So, I’m guessing she’s not a fan of shredded jeans and purple hair?”

“Let’s just say if there was a line-up of girls, I’d be her last choice.”

“Well, you’d be my first.” He kissed me softly and rubbed his nose against mine. It was cold, but it felt nice.

“You know, having a beautiful mom is not the worst thing.”

“Oh yes, because why have sweet and nurturing, when you can have sexy and cold hearted?”

“Stop twisting everything! I only meant it gives me an insight to what you’ll look like in twenty-five years.”

Ugh. I screwed up my nose. “What makes you think I’ll still be around you in twenty-five years?”

“Because I told you, I never intend to let you go.” Erik pulled me by my hips so that I was crushed against his body. He kissed me deeply. I felt dizzy and brought my hands behind his neck to draw him closer. His arms locked comfortably around my waist, making me feel safe and protected in his embrace. My mother’s words about being careful tapped at my brain, but I pushed them away.

I didn’t see the harm in anyone loving this fiercely.