Chapter 41

Makenna's POV.

I sipped my hot chocolate, gasping as I realized how hot it was. I still couldn't help smiling as I read a line in the chapter I was editing.

I liked this chapter a lot, especially since I was in a really good mood when I wrote it. I sighed with satisfaction when I got to the last sentence in the spicy part of the chapter. This would probably be my readers’ favorite—it was quite spicy. Not as spicy as the amazing sex I'd gotten yesterday in Wolfe’s office. I smiled ruefully at the thought.

Wolfe had been very passionate. I don’t even know if passionate was the right word for all the stuff we'd gotten to try out last night. I sipped my hot chocolate again.

“Fuck!” I yelped, placing the cup down gently. At this rate, I wouldn't taste anything for days. I blushed at the next thought that flitted through my mind. Focus, damnit.

I cleared my throat as I tried to concentrate on editing the chapter. Then my phone beeped, breaking my concentration again. I really hoped it wasn't Sera. I couldn’t deal with her right now. I groaned as I grabbed my phone only to see it was a text from my mother.

I really didn’t want to see what was in that text. I scoffed as I dropped my phone back on the table and tried to continue reading my chapter. If my mother was texting me, it definitely wasn't anything good.

However, I could not, for the life of me, concentrate on what I was reading. I could just be a bad person for once and ignore the text. But no, I had a freaking good conscience, nagging me about the text.

Damn it.

I grabbed my phone, clicked on the text message, and it popped open: “Hello dear, it’s been a while since we sat down together. Why don't you come around for dinner tonight? I promise I’ll treat you to your favorite meal. Be here by 8 pm.”

I stared at the text, looking hard to make sure I wasn't missing anything.

“This can't be right,” I said as I went through the contact of the sender of the text. Did Yas’s mom send me a text that was supposed to be for her daughter?

No, it was my mother's number. You've got to be kidding me.

Was this some kind of sick joke Kenzie was playing with my mother's phone?

But Kenzie didn't play pranks, unless, of course, it was for her benefit. But she didn't have that kind of time now, especially with her work at Artemia House.

I read the text again.

It was definitely my mother. The last sentence in the text gave her away. But the “Hello Dear” was definitely throwing me off guard. Not to mention the other contents of the text message.

Was she ill? Or was Dad sick?

Something was definitely wrong with that text message. And I really didn't want to speak to Kenzie about it. I wonder if they sent her a text like mine.

Nah. Kenzie was my mother's favorite. A long call was her go-to for her—not that I cared. Besides, talking with my mother over the phone was really awkward. I didn't mind the text message. But this one was really freaking me out.

If Wolfe was my boyfriend, I would've invited him along. At least with him there, any shock I'd be getting from my parents would be leveled with mine. Stranger for—

A thought suddenly occurred to me. What if they wanted to set me up with a stranger for marriage? Like a blind date, but with my parents there to supervise everything.

I took my hot chocolate and drank more than half of the cup as the thought left a bad taste in my mouth.

If I wanted to find out what was going on, the only option was to show up.

Fine. I sighed, resigned. Even if I didn't want to go, my curiosity about the text would get the better of me and I would regret it if I didn't find out what the text message was about.

*******

I smiled at Pierce as he opened the door as soon as I was close to it. That was strange.

“Good evening, Ms. Makenna.” Pierce greeted me as he helped me take off my coat.

“Have you been waiting for me, Pierce?” I chuckled as I handed him the coat. “I didn't even knock. Did you miss me that much?” I teased him, giving him a playful look.

“You are always a delight to have around, Ms. Makenna.” He smiled as he closed the door.

“Is something amiss with my parents?” I whispered, hoping to get some insight into what was going on before sacrificing myself to the wolves—because this was definitely a trap.

“Not that I know of.” He frowned, shaking his head. “Everything seems fine. If you'll excuse me, Ms. Makenna.”

I nodded, sighing as he left me in the foyer. I would have to find out for myself.

******

I walked into the living room, expecting the usual chilly reception from my parents. To my surprise, my mother was already setting the table, her face lighting up as she saw me.

“Makenna! At least you're early this time,” she said, smiling thinly.

I blinked, taken aback. “Uh, yeah. I guess I am.”

“Come, sit. Dinner is almost ready,” she said, gesturing to the beautifully set table.

“Okay...” I replied, still wary. It felt like she was trying to be nice but was failing terribly at it.

Dad entered the room, giving me a nod. “Makenna.”

“Dad,” I replied, nodding back.

We sat down at the table, and I couldn't help but feel like I was in an alternate universe. There was no argument. Yet. My mother chatted briefly about her day, asking me about my work and writing. I answered, still trying to figure out what was going on.

Dinner looked delicious—my mother had actually made my favorite meal. But the whole time, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

“Kenzie will be down soon.” My mother suddenly turned to me. Oh wow. Kenzie was here too. I would actually be surprised if we started dinner without her, especially since she was in town. “Makenna, we wanted to talk to you about something important.”

Here it comes, I thought, bracing myself.

“We’ve been worried about you,” she said, her tone serious now. “We know you’re independent and barely doing well with your writing, but we just wanted to make sure you’re happy and comfortable.”

Barely doing well? I didn’t remember complaining.

“Barely doing well?” I asked, frowning. My mother wasn't really good with confrontations and my patience was seriously running thin. “What do you mean?”

Since when did they care about my happiness? This is really looking more and more like a prank. Could they get to the point?

“Maki,” Kenzie walked into the room sounding weirdly chirpy.

Great. The whole family was here.

“You're here early,” she continued as she sat down next to my mother.

Why did everybody seem to want to point that out?

“Can someone tell me what's going on?” I watched as they ate as though they didn't want to talk about whatever it was. “Besides, being nice is not something you guys do. So can you guys cut the crap and get to why you invited me over?”

“Why don't you eat your food first, Makenna?” my mother said, an eyebrow raised as she gestured to the food in front of me.

“I can barely eat anything with all the—” I started.

“Is it true you sleep with men for money?” my dad asked coldly, disgust written all over his face.

“What?!” I asked, shocked at the question.

I mentally reminded myself to keep my curiosity to myself when it came to my parent's dinner invitations in the future.

Sleeping with men for money? What was that?

And why were we talking about my sex life during dinner?