Page 111 of Wild About You
“Mom?”
37
I DON’T KNOW YOU
PIPER
Tyler’s facegoes ashen as his mom steps closer. I notice that neither of them makes any move to hug the other.
“What are you doing here?” he asks.
“Everly invited me to her play, but I got held up at work.” Her gaze moves past him and takes in the house. “This is where she’s been staying?”
I see it from her perspective. The beer pong, the shots on the counter, these four big burly hockey guys. Right now, it doesn't look like the homey environment that it is.
“Uhhh… yeah.” Tyler rubs at the back of his neck. “My apartment wasn’t big enough for the two of us.”
“Mom?” Everly’s voice snaps all our attention as she steps in through the front door.
Ty’s brows pinch together. “What are you doing back? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I just came back to grab my phone charger for the car.” Everly walks into the room and hugs her mom. It’s a quick hug without a lot of feeling behind it like you might expect from a daughter who hasn’t seen her mother in months, but her facial expression reads all excitement.
“I can’t believe you came!” Everly says. “I didn’t think you were going to make it.”
“You said it was important so here I am.”
Everly beams. “You can stay for the weekend, right? Tyler has a game tomorrow, and I can show you around town.”
She smiles stiffly. “Slow down. I just came to check in on you. Between your brother’s messages and the things you told me last night, it sounds like it might be time for you to come home, huh?”
“Home?” Tyler cuts in.
Her smile is tense. “Maybe we can talk in private.”
Tyler waves a hand toward the guys and introduces them. “Mom, these are my teammates and friends.” They step up to shake her hand, one by one. “Guys, this is my mom, Stephanie.”
“Nice to meet you,” Ash says. He looks at Tyler. “We’re gonna run to Jack’s for a bit. Holler if you need us.”
“Thanks,” Tyler says.
I wonder for a second if I should go with them, but Tyler rests a hand on my lower back and draws me closer. “And this is Piper, my girlfriend.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say, though I’m not sure that’s true. My feelings towards this woman aren’t anywhere near nice. I have such animosity towards this woman, but I don’t really know her, only what Tyler has told me. So, I suck it up and put a smile on my face as Tyler leads us into the living room.
Tyler and I sit on the couch; Everly and her mom take the love seat.
Their mom reaches out and runs her fingers through Everly’s hair. “You need a trim.”
Everly gathers her hair on the other side of her face. “I haven’t found a new stylist here yet.”
“I can take you to mine,” I offer.
“Thanks.” Everly gives me a grateful smile.
“Nonsense. Marianna has been cutting your hair since you were three years old. I’ll call her on our way back.”
Tyler stiffens beside me. “You can’t be serious?”
