Page 64 of Playing With Danger

“No.”

“But she’s calling you. You’re just not answering.”

“Correct, and texting.”

If I’d had a different kind of relationship with my mother I would’ve felt guilty for not returning her calls or texts. But I didn’t have a different kind of relationship with her. I had the one I had and I didn’t feel like getting laid into.

When Valentine didn’t say anything I turned my head to look at him. He was staring out the windshield but I doubted he thought the cinderblock wall in front of him was interesting enough to study.

“I don’t know what to say,” he started. “I think I’m supposed to tell you she’s your mother and you should call her and give her a chance to apologize. But from what I saw, I don’t think that’s what would happen.”

“You’re right. That’s not what would happen.”

“Right,” he clipped. “Then stick to your boundaries.”

“Are you close to your parents?”

The instant the question left my mouth the inside of the car became stifling. The air turned thick. And an unease like I’d never felt prickled my skin.

“My mom’s dead.”

Those three words ricocheted around the Rover and pierced my heart.

“I’m—”

“My dad’s…not close to anyone.”

I waited and when he offered no more I gave him a useless platitude since I didn’t know what else to say.

“I’m sorry, Valentine.”

“It was a long time ago.”

He said the words but his statement didn’t match the sorrow I heard.

Saying anything else at this point would’ve been cruel. Not that I had a choice in dropping the subject because he was out of the SUV.

Damn.

I collected my purse and gathered my thoughts before I got out and joined him. When he grabbed my hand I felt marginally better.

“I shouldn’t’ve?—”

“You didn’t know.” He let me off the hook. “And like I said it was a long time ago.”

I chanced a question.

“How long ago?”

“I was thirteen.”

I didn’t know exactly how old Valentine was but he had to be around my age, so indeed a long time ago. A long time to still be mourning the loss of his mother. As much as my heart hurt for him I was glad he had the kind of mom who he loved so much that still after all these years he sounded pained when he spoke of her.

Valentine jerked his head in the direction of the covered tent parking.

“Hayden’s home,” he noted.

I glanced at Hayden’s truck parked next to my car and asked, “Is that a problem?”

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