Page 184 of His White Moonlight
“No thank you.And remember how many times I helped you as you consider shifting the blame to me.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t throw you under the bus tires.The Shanes deserve some tread marks.”
With a wave, I left her to go find Mom.She was in her office, talking on the phone but hung up when she saw me coming.
I let myself into her office and took a seat on one of the chairs in front of her desk.
Her sternness melted a little as she inhaled.
“Did Bennett wake you?”
"Why do you ask when you already know?”
“I only know that he kissed you, not whether or not he interrupted your sleep.”
I glanced at the clock and internally cringed at the time.“He woke me, but considering the time, I think it was warranted.”
“After what happened this weekend, I think you needed the sleep.More than you did the alcohol.Why did you drink, Wrenly?Is it for coping?I have the name of a doctor that you could?—”
“Mom, stop.Please.I drank because I wanted to.I could list a million reasons why…stress, the Shanes, Bennett, you and Dad, this job, all the people who hate that I’m Bennett’s mate, all the shit that happened to me in the past, but I mostly drank because I wanted to feel like I was in control of what I can and can’t do.”
She nodded and didn’t say anything as she studied me for a moment.
“I don’t want to make any more mistakes,” she said finally.
“Isn’t that what life is, though?Are you even living if you’re not making mistakes?”
She gave me a sad smile.“I’d like to make fewer mistakes with you than doing the right thing.”
“You’re doing the right thing now.Talking to me instead of getting mad.Asking why instead of assuming.”
“It doesn’t feel right.It feels like I might be ignoring a potentially dangerous situation because I’m terrified I’ll lose you for good.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Mom’s wordsbroke my heart for both of us.She was the only Mom I remembered, and I didn’t want to lose her either.
“No matter what, I promise you won’t lose me for good,” I said.“Not if I have any say in it.”
She sniffled, and we both stood to hug.
“I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too, Sweetheart.So much.Can I ask how things are going with Bennett, or is that a closed topic for us?”
“It’s not closed.But I don’t think you’ll like the answer.”
“Say it anyway,” she said, leading me to her office couch.
“He wants me to stay with him, and I want to leave.We’re at an impasse.”
“But I can smell?—”
“Attraction doesn’t mean I’m willing to give up more of my life for him.I’ve given up enough.”
“Will you tell me if he does something you don’t like?”
“If you want.”
