A few minutes later, footsteps sound and it’s too late to escape.
“Willow,” Dad’s brusque tone sends a shiver up my back.
What is he ticked about? It wasn’t him that walked in on his middle-aged parents having sex like teenagers.
“Willow, honey, look at us.” Mom’s mollifying tone is a contrast to his. “We wish you wouldn’t have seen that.”
“I’m not apologizing for having sex with my wife in my home,” he gripes.
“No, Sterling, but we should have been more aware.”
“Aware of what? Our grown-ass daughter stopping by on a Thursday in the middle of the afternoon? You knew what you were doing wearing that dress.”
“Oh my God, quit talking, both of you!” I plead. “My eyes are bleeding, my brain is shutting down, and I will never recover.”
“Quite the drama queen.”
I twist, cracking an eye to find my dad glaring down at me with contempt. Not an ounce of shame or humility.
At least they’re both dressed. Mom is different than the last time I saw her.
The glow is unmistakable, and it’s not post-sex radiance.
She is happy and completely beautiful.
“That dress is hot.” I can’t believe that blurted out of my mouth.
Her cheeks flush and she side-eyes my dad shyly. “Thanks.”
If this wasn’t so awful, it would be sweet.
“If I leave now, can we act like this never happened?”
“I love seeing you, but you should have called,” Dad informs.
Grandma’s voice replays in my head. Did she know?
“I wanted to surprise you, but that will never, ever happen again. You and Chase need to have a code, like a sock on the door or something.”
Mom’s tinkly giggle has his face softening. “Noted. I’ll mention that to your brother.”
“Don’t, because then he’ll know about this. We shall never speak of this again.” I push to a sitting position, ignoring my ankle when it protests. “I’m sorry for barging in unannounced. It will never happen again.”
“’Lo.”
“Dad, It’s not natural to see your parents having sex. Seriously, let’s drop it before I get sick.”
“Okay, honey, we’ll drop it.” Mom’s back to pacifying, but the look they share sets my nerves on alert.
“Something else?”
“Well, when you… uh… walked in and saw…” She peers to Dad for help.
“You dropped your purse in your haste to retreat.”
Haste to retreat?Why does he sound like a textbook?
Mom reaches for something on the chair behind her, and when she turns, my world stops.