Page 17 of Undeniable
“Both. Lucas good. My mom bad.” I sounded like a child who didn’t know how to speak full sentences. “Can I use your phone to call Kaylee?” I plugged mine into the charger.
She tapped on the computer screen until she found Kaylee’s number then pressed on the call button.
“Bailey.” Kaylee’s voice came through the car’s speakers, sounding terrified.
I needed to kick myself for not being there for her. “Hey, it’s Maze. What happened? How’s Mom? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Her voice was nasally as though she’d been crying. “Mom hit her head pretty hard on the driver’s side window. She was complaining of pain. But Maze, the police had to follow us in the ambulance. She had alcohol on her breath.”
“Are the cops arresting her?”
“I don’t know,” Kaylee said, her voice carrying that familiar note that signaled she needed her big sister. “The police officer mentioned something about child endangerment.”
This was bad. “I’m glad you’re okay. I’m on my way. But Kaylee, why did Mom pick you up so early? I thought you and Len were going to the movies this afternoon.”
“Len got sick. I tried to call you, but it kept going to your voicemail. So I called Mom to pick me up.”
I was officially a terrible sister. The one night I had to myself to let loose, and I could be losing Kaylee.
“Maze,” Kaylee said. “You think the cops will lock her up?”
I hated the weariness in her tone. At thirteen, she shouldn’t lose sleep over our mother. I’d done enough of that over the years to last both of us a lifetime.
“I don’t know.” My mom had an uncanny way of getting out of trouble, but child endangerment, especially if she had been drunk or had the hint of alcohol on her breath, would be a difficult feat to beg her way out of. “Love you. I’ll be there soon.”
After I ended the call, I screamed. “I don’t need this, Bails. I’m afraid if they charge her, they could take Kaylee away. I can’t lose her.”
The high I’d been on was gone. The feeling of being free had vanished. The mind-blowing sex, nonexistent—except the morning-after ache throbbing between my legs was a clear reminder.
“You and Kaylee will stay with us. When we get to the hospital, I’ll call my mom. She’s always wanted another child. So she’ll love having Kaylee until this mess is sorted. If Child Protective Services gets involved, then we’ll deal. Besides, CPS would want to see a nice home environment, and we have that in spades.”
The Armstrong mansion was like a resort. Bailey’s dad was an in-demand surgeon, so money wasn’t an issue for the Armstrongs.
“I don’t want to impose.”
“Nonsense, chica. You’re family. My parents love you.”
I felt sick as Bailey sped through the streets of Lakemont. “Thank you.” I rubbed my chest where a dull pain began to surface. “I wish I had enough money to support Kaylee and me. If I did, I would move.” I sighed. “But I’m thankful that my dad pays my college tuition. So maybe I can find a second job to help support us.”
I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t go into the hospital and let Kaylee see me breaking down. “Talk to me. Tell me something good.”
“Lucas is smitten with you.”
I laughed, nerves rattling my voice. “Smitten? You know that the definition of that word is lovesick, and I doubt very much that Lucas is that wild about me. Tell me about your night with Erik.”
“I want to hear about Lucas and you.”
“Not really in the mood to chat about him.”
“That bad?”
“That fucking good.” The words tumbled out as a butterfly feeling swirled in my stomach. Damn it.
She squealed. “Your first romp in the hay since Josh, and it was all that and more? Chica, I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear that. You might need more of those bedroom gymnastics.”
“Hell no. That was one night.” A headache started blooming behind my eyes. “Except he wants a friend-with-benefits deal.”
She flipped on her blinker to turn on Main Street toward the hospital. “You should oblige. It will take your mind off your problems.”
