Page 51 of Bound

“Porter, is that true?”

“Does it really matter? I don't understand how it's any of your business what I do with her. I'm not a damn kid, I don't need your permission to be with someone.”

Curling her arms around her chest, my mother started rocking side to side. “You're right, you don't need our permission. But this isn't going to help you, Porter. Get your head out of the clouds, you're only going to hurt that girl.”

“I'm not going to hurt her.”

“I know you, and you will. That's what you do, you destroy things that are good. I'm sorry, Honey, I'm not trying to be cruel. I don't understand why you sabotage anything good that comes into your life.” My mother's brows crept knowingly to her hairline, her chin falling into her chest as she eyed me. “You've done it since you were a kid, this won't be any different. It's not fair to her, not one bit.”

“You don't know me, I'm not that man anymore.” Holding up my hands, deflated and at a loss, I said, “Fine, you want me out, you want me gone, I'll go then.” Throwing my arms in the air, I took a long step towards the stairs. “Let me go get Emery, and we'll be out of your hair.”

Reaching out for me, my mother's face softened. “That's not what I meant, I don't want you to leave. I just meant don't lead her on, especially when you know you'll never stick around.”

“You don't know that!” I yelled, dragging my hands down my face. “I've changed, things are different now. Stop expecting me to be him, stop acting like people can't change, because they do.”

“Honey, I want to believe you, I really do. But the past is the best indicator of the future. You've only proven your father right—”

“He's not my father! No matter how much you say it, it doesn't make it true!”

“Okay, alright,” she sighed, pinching her bottom lip as her eyes searched my face. “But, Franco has been there for you, he's been here since you were a little boy. We don't want you to go, Porter. We want to help, but you have to work with us here.”

“What?! No! He can't stay here, Jo. Do you really want those people coming back? Do you really want to worry about who's going to knock at the door one day?”

“Franco, he's my son. I won't just abandon him, I did that once already, and it was the worst mistake of my life.” Twisting to look at me, my mother held out her hand. “Come on, don't go. Besides, she's not ready for that. Emery needs to rest, she needs to get better, she can do that here.”

“Jo!”

“Shut it, Franco!” Snapping her shoulders square, my mother glared at her husband. “I won't just turn my back on the only son I have left. We did it your way, it didn't work. I'm not pushing him away again.”

“Jo—”

Slicing her hand through the air, my mother's voice was the firmest I had ever heard it. “Enough! If you don't like it, if you don't want to be around him, then you can pack your shit and leave. But, my son needs me, that's the only thing that matters to me right now.”

Turning away from him, she jerked her head for me to go up stairs, quickly following on my heels.

“Mom, you don't need to do this,” I said over my shoulder as my feet hit the landing. “It's alright, I won't make you choose between us.”

“Porter, it's not even a choice. Zander stood by your side since the very beginning, and I should have too.” Walking past me, she kept her head straight. “Come on, I want to go check on Emery, and see how she's doing.” Her hand struck the door as she opened it simultaneously. “How are we doing?” she chirped, her voice upbeat and casual.

I knew she had just switched from mom mode into nurse mode. I could see the shift, I could watch the visible transformation as her entire demeanor changed.

Emery sat up quickly, grabbing the blankets and holding them tight. “Is everything alright? I heard yelling, what's going on?”

“Everything is fine, Sweetheart, I don't want you to worry.” Sitting on the edge of the bed, she began to touch her neck, moving the pads of her fingers around her head. “Are you alright? How's your chest feel?”

“Better actually, it still hurts, but it's better.”

“Good, I'm glad. And your head?”

“I feel like I got hit with a baseball bat, but other than that, I'm doing okay.”

“And you ate, that's good.” Emery shook her head with a smile. “Well, I'm thinking you're going to be just fine.” My mother scooped her hansd down Emery's hair, smoothing out the frizzled strands. “Did you call home yet?”

“Oh, no, not yet, but I will. I live on my own, so no one is really waiting for me anyway.”

Thinning her lips, my mother placed her hands on her lap. “Okay, well, make yourself at home. I'm going to go grab you some of my clothes so you can shower. But feel free to go downstairs and get some food if you're hungry, anything you want. My house is your house.”

“Thank you,” Emery said.

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