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“I don’t know what you did to turn that man gay,” she shakes her head. “Are you sleeping with this one? Are you going to turn him gay too?”

I step forward and block Sadie from this evil woman’s stare. “All right, that’s enough. You need to leave. You’re not welcome here.”

“Shut up boy, I’ll leave when I’m good and ready. I haven’t gotten what I came for.” I watch as she stands unsteadily and hope she doesn’t fall down the stairs and we have to deal with her longer than necessary. The corner of her lips quirks up as she asks, “Who are you to tell me what to do?”

Sadie’s shaking hands ball up the back of my shirt as she presses against me. I can’t believe her ex gave up her address to this woman. What an asshole.

“I live here that’s who,” I growl at her.

“Really, Sadie, he’s young enough to be your child.”

Moving around to stand in front of me, I can feel the anger rolling off Sadie as she stands off against her mother.

“Enough, Mother. It’s time to leave. I’m not giving you any money now or anytime in the future, no matter how much you harass me. If I see you around here again, I’ll call the cops and get a restraining order.”

“Against your own mother?” The woman shrieks.

Hanging her head, Sadie sighs loudly enough for the neighbors to hear. “You’re not a good mother. Never have been and never will be, so don’t try to guilt trip me. I’ve given you more than you’ve ever given me.”

“I gave birth to you! You ungrateful bitch,” she shouts. Her wrinkly face contorting into rage.

“It’s time to forget my address and phone number and calling me at all hours of the day and night to get money from me because I’m done,” Sadie states calmly.

“You don’t answer!” Her mother cries out.

“Because you only call when you want something and that something isalwaysmoney.”

Her mother’s face starts to turn red and when it gets to a dark shade of purple, I start to worry that she’s having a heart attack or something, but Sadie only shakes her head sadly.

“Stop. If you pass out, I’m not calling you an ambulance.” Turning to me, Sadie grimaces and picks up her box. “Ignore her. Let’s get the rest of your stuff inside and try to salvage what’s left of this day.”

“Hey,” I stop her with a hand to her arm as she starts to pass me. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I will be. Are you okay?” she asks, walking slowly into her garage and stepping into the kitchen.

I have a feeling she’s not talking about the show I just witnessed on her doorstep, but the steadily increasing exhaustion I’ve been experiencing over the past couple of weeks. I’ve seen the worried glances she’s given me.

“I’m good. If you want, you can stay inside, and I’ll get the rest.”

She silently appraises me, trying to decide what she should do. I know she wants to help me, but at the same time doesn’t want to see or hear her mother.

“I can’t let you deal with her on your own, that wouldn’t be fair. She’d probably accost you out on the sidewalk, and I’d never see or hear from you again,” she jokes as she places the box she’d been carrying down.

Throwing my head back and laughing, I look down at her through my lowered lashes. “There’s no way in hell that woman could ever kidnap me.”

“She’s surprisingly wily when she wants to be. She probably has chloroform in her purse ready to take out any unwilling participants so she can steal their money to get drunk and gamble.”

Setting the boxes down on top of the counter, I gather Sadie in my arms. “I won’t let anything happen to you or me. I promise. I’m fully capable of getting the rest of my things.”

Leaning down, I swipe my tongue across her full pouty lips willing her to open for me. Sadie doesn’t deny me, meeting my tongue with hers, and wrapping her arms around my neck to pull me closer.

We kiss for a long moment until we hear a commotion on the front porch and pull apart.

“God, I love kissing you,” she sighs against my lips.

A stupid grin takes over my face and kiss her one last time. “I love kissing you too.” Taking her hand to lead her to the garage door, I pause, stealing myself before I open the door, ready for whatever her mother says and prepared to stand up for the most amazing woman in my life.

As we pass by Sadie’s silver BMW, we hear a shuffling on the other side of the car, and then a loud scraping sound.

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