Page 44 of Mayhem

He chuckles. “Absolutely not. You’re a minor. I was merely suggesting we kill time together.”

“My bad. I forgot. That code of yours. I mean, I’m only weeks away from being legal,” I say sarcastically.

“Are you saying you want this to be a date?” He tilts his head, raising a brow.

“No. Not at all. I wasmerelypointing out a fact,” I deny, my face feeling hot.

“Touché.”

“I wouldn’t even know what movie to watch. What’s even out?”

“We can find out when we go.”

“Hello, Rocky. Oh, who do we have here?” An older, blonde woman appears beside the table.

“Hey, Trixie. This is my friend Willow.”

“Nice to meet you, dear.” The woman gives me a warm smile before turning back to Chase. “She’s pretty. You better be treating her right.”

“It’s not…” He starts, but a commotion behind Trixie catches our attention.

There, in all her trashy glory, stands my mother.

“Willow, where the hell have you been? I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

“Me? What are you doing here? Does someone here sell drugs?” I look around as if I’m trying to find the culprit.

“Such a petulant child. I need you to come home. We have business to attend. Tell your hoodlum boyfriend goodbye.”

She reaches out to grab my arm.

I move away from her. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“Are you too good for me now? Found you an older, richer man and you don’t need your mom anymore? How tacky, Willow,” she sneers.

“Wow, that’s rich coming from you. Why do you need me so bad? Child protective services come by to check on that welfare check you’re receiving and found out I haven’t lived there in weeks?”

“You little bitch. Come with me now before you cause a scene.”

I glance around, finding all eyes on us. “I think it’s a little late for that, but I think it’s your outfit. What’s that you’re wearing? A toddler dress?”

She glares at me. “You need to come home. If you don’t, I’ll make you regret it.” She reaches for me again, making me flinch.

Chase cuts in. “Is that a threat ma’am? It sounded like a threat to me. Right, Trixie?” When the older woman nods, he turns back to my mother. “I suggest you leave, Celeste. You’ve already caused a scene. I’d hate to see you get taken in for threatening your daughter.”

“You keep your mouth shut, young man. This is none of your business.”

“I think you need to ask around about me. My name’s Rocky. I think you’ll find that you don’t want to make those kinds of statements to me.”

“Oh, I know who you are,” she says, turning up her nose. “I’m not scared of some punk kid. Especially when your time here is about up.” She turns back to me. “You either come to the house or I’ll come find you.”

“I think I prefer to stay here.”

“Have it your way. I’ll be seeing you soon.”

“If I never had to see you again, it would be too soon.”

She snorts, turning to leave the way she came.

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