Page 93 of Playing With Danger

“Thanks. Sorry she bothered you.”

“Bother? You know I’d rather deal with her than let her loose on you.”

That was the truth. Any time Hayden got to turn my mother away was a good day for him.

Since I didn’t want to air my personal business in front of Khloe—actually, I didn’t want the woman knowing anything about me, period—I just smiled at Hayden and took off to my room.

When I closed the door, I looked around the room. Everything looked exactly how I’d left it with the exception of mail on my bed. I didn’t bother sorting through it, all my bills were electronic. And junk mail made the save-the-environment side of me rabidly angry. I was in too good of a mood to get wrapped around the axles. Khloe’s presence was enough. I didn’t need anything else bringing me down. It was on that thought I went to my text messages. At first, I muted my mother’s calls after she’d embarrassed the hell out of me in front of Valentine. Then when she didn’t stop I blocked her completely.

I still wasn’t ready to deal with her. I had to help Valentine work through everything with his father first. Once that was sorted, I’d deal with my mother. Set boundaries, stick to them, and attempt to have something healthy with her. I wasn’t under the illusion it would be loving but it could be a relationship of sorts. I found Nathan’s text string and sent him a succinct message explaining I was extremely busy with my new business and I would appreciate him running interference with my mother until I felt I was ready to sit down and speak with her. I didn’t wait for his reply before I muted his text thread and tossed my phone back in my purse.

Since Khloe was there I changed my plans and packed today’s outfit in my overnight bag. I’d shower and get ready at Valentine’s. Hayden throwing cold water on me was one thing. Being stabbed to death through the shower curtain by a crazy girlfriend was another.

I had my overnight bag packed and my laptop totes stuffed with extra notebooks so it was time to scoot. Now that I was getting ready at Valentine’s I had to hurry.

Extreme relief the kitchen slash living room was empty hit me harder than it should have.

“I’m leaving!” I shouted. “Have a good day.”

A moment later my quick escape was foiled.

“Sophie, wait,” Khloe called back.

Cheese and rice, this bitch.

“Yeah?”

“I know you’re in a hurry. But I haven’t seen you since you had to go to the hospital.” She rushed into the kitchen and came out carrying a reusable plastic container. “Hayden said blueberry’s your favorite. I’m really good at baking, so I made you some muffins.”

I couldn’t see my face but I was pretty sure my eyes were bugging out of my head, mainly because I felt them getting wide.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

Really, seriously she didn’t. I didn’t want anything from this woman.

Suddenly her face fell and her demeanor completely changed. She almost looked nervous. There was no bitch in sight when she said, “I just really like him.”

Damn.

What did I say to that?

“I hope you know, I have a man. But even if I didn’t, I’m no threat. We’ve always just been friends.”

She gave me a sheepish smile and now I felt like a total cow. A judgy cow.

“I know. Please take the muffins.”

Khloe held out her offering.

Dammit all to hell.

“Thanks, Khloe. And I am really sorry but I have to run. I’m already late.”

“Have a good day,” she bid.

“You, too.”

After that I was out the door and jogging to my car.

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