Page 4 of Queen Rose

“You okay?” I ask in a low voice.

She lifts her head a fraction and nods. “Yeah. Come sit down with me for a sec.”

Frowning, I do as she asks.

“I want to apologize. I made an assumption about the electric bill… and I was wrong. I had no reason to think you’d have forgotten to—”

“You know I always make sure I have rent, electric, and water bills covered first.”

She draws in a breath, eyeing me. “Yes. Then food for the three of you. Then anything for me. Nate. Promise?”

Stiffly, I nod. “Of course.” But my jaw is clenching, and I know she knows that I’d never leave her to suffer in any way. I’ve always managed to find a way to take care of her, no matter what it cost me. She simply has no idea the lengths I’d go to.

“Good.” She reaches across the table to pat my hand. “How’s your friend? What did you say her name was?”

Sheepish, I meet my mother’s eyes. “Aria. Her name is Aria.”

Her brow raises a fraction. “Is this the same Aria who called to get our address the other day? The one who coaches mini cheer?”

“Yes, the same.”

“Is that really why she needed the address, or was she looking for y—?”

I hold up a hand. “Becca really did leave her bag behind. Aria was doing us a favor. And she really likes Becca, apparently.” My lips twitch under my mother’s stare, and I relent. “Okay, she also may have also wanted to talk to me.”

My mom may be sick, but she’s not stupid. “Nate… is this the same girl you went to the party to see?” When I don’t answer but instead fold my hands in front of me on the table and stare at them, she continues. “We’re talking about the head cheerleader at Rosehaven, are we not? Elle and Will’s daughter. The Warrington family.”

My eyes flick up to hers. “You know them?”

“Not personally. We obviously don’t travel in the same circles, but I know of them. Everyone in town does. Her dad had a hand in how this entire community was built. And he’s doing all those huge lake houses up at McCormick Lake, right?”

“Yeah. That’s him.” I don’t know why I’m surprised Mom knows of the family. This town isn’t that big, and it’s way more fun for people to gossip about the social elite than it is to talk about the have-nots.

I mean, I’d known exactly who Aria was the moment I’d set eyes on her. Every time our schools went head-to-head on the football field, she’d stood out like a bright beacon. She was at the absolute top of the food chain at Rosehaven, so beautiful and full of life. Royalty. And so fucking far out of my league, I’d never dreamed of getting close enough to say hello.

Yet, here we are. And the Aria I’m getting to know is nothing like the stuck-up, bitchy queen I’d assumed she was when we first met. Gruffly, I add, “I used to see her at games, cheering on the sidelines.”

Mom stifles a laugh. “I don’t doubt you did. She’s probably really pretty, if she looks anything like her parents.”

“She’s gorgeous. And not at all who I thought she was. Most people have this really skewed view of her. She’s nothing like what everyone thinks.”

“And how do you know this?” Mom’s eyebrows lift.

A smirk teases my lips for a second, thinking about the stunning girl who has reached inside my chest and grabbed hold of my heart. “We’ve been talking. I, um, have been doing landscaping at her parents’ house.”

Mom’s mouth forms an O, but she doesn’t comment, simply waits for me to continue. Because she knows me so well, she knows I’ll feel compelled to spill my guts.

“She likes me”—I frown—“but I told you, she’s… got some issues.” Issues I’m only scratching the surface of.

Mom nods, her tongue sneaking out to wet her lips. “That’s what you were dealing with tonight.” It’s not even phrased as a question. She already knows the answer.

I nod, unable to say anything else.

“Just don’t get in too deep. You know what I mean?” Mom blows out a hard breath when she notices my head tilt and my eyes narrow. “I’m just saying… and maybe this is awful of me to say, and maybe I’d think differently if I got to know her… but what could she possibly understand about your life?”

“She’s not as oblivious as you’d think she might be.”

I’ve always been able to read my mother pretty well, and the gears are turning and shifting in her head as she considers what I’ve just said. She sighs deeply. “But you know what I mean. You work. You help me with the kids. None of that is anything a wealthy young girl is going to want to deal with. She’ll want someone to pamper her a bit… someone with resources.”

My eyes flick to hers. “There are plenty of ways for me to be good to her that don’t cost money.”

She presses a few fingers to her temple. “Oh my God, Nate, do not get this girl pregnant.”

I choke on my own spit, gagging and coughing as my eyes water, surprised by her demand. “Jesus, Mom. That’s not what I meant.” Though, Aria did seem to enjoy what we did together tonight. But Mom doesn’t need to know about any of that.

“Just promise you’ll be careful.” She moistens her lips again and reaches over to pat my hand. “I hope things work out like you want them to.”

“Don’t worry, Mom. I can handle myself.”

She eyes me warily. “Yes. But can you handle dating her and everything that comes with it, on top of whatever problems she’s got?”

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