Page 89 of Reckless
“No. But her life isn’t nearly as interesting. She won’t even tell me about whoever she met on the cruise. But I know she did because I caught her sneaking in and out at night.” My mom winks at me, cheeks rounding out into full circles with her closed-mouth smile.
“Is that how I get rid of you, then? By not telling you anything?” I’m joking, and we both know it. That’s why she laughs and glances around.
“At first, it pissed me off I couldn’t find a spare key somewhere obvious. You know, under your doormat like a normal person. But then I decided I raised you smarter than I thought because I have looked for a key everywhere and couldn’t find one.”
I give my mom a sheepish grin as I plant a hand on Winter’s back to guide her stunned form through the front gate and up the sidewalk.
“Well, Ma, the truth is, I don’t have a spare key hidden anywhere at all.”
Her head tips back against the siding of the house, inky black hair falling behind her. “Yep. I raised you stupid.”
“It might be hereditary.” I step up to my mom with a grin and take her hand in mine, pulling her to standing.
“That smart mouth.” She grips my chin and squeezes my face hard enough to make my lips pucker, then shifts her head to address Winter. “Does he give you this kind of attitude too? He’s always been wild and unruly, but it’s hard to fault that heart of gold.”
Winter says nothing as my mom pulls me in for a hug. “My sweet, sweet boy. I missed you.”
“Is that what all the insults mean? That you missed me?”
Over my shoulder, she addresses Winter again. “He’s needy too. Requires a lot of hair petting. I think I told him he was handsome too much as a child.”
A soft snort sounds from behind me. “He did just finish telling me what a nice face he has.”
“Okay, wow.” I pull away from my mom and step back to give her and Winter a clear view of each other. “I haven’t even introduced you and you’re already mocking me.”
“You must be Winter. I’ve heard so much about you.” My mom steps forward, smiling with crinkles around her eyes—the only tell for her age. She says she smiles so much there’s no getting around them, so she’s embracing them. “I like you already.”
Winter blinks at my mom’s incredibly timely comment. “Likewise. It’s nice to meet you.”
She sticks her hand out to shake, but my mom waves her off. “We’re not business partners, and I’m a hugger.”
Mom wraps herself around a stunned-looking Winter, whose arms hang limp at her sides. I can’t keep my lips from twitching.Business partners. That fucking phrase will haunt her.
Like always, Winter’s eyes find mine. I widen mine as if to saydon’t be a dick to my mom, hug her back!
I get an eye roll, but she has a small smirk on her face when she lifts her arms and hugs my mom back. The sight hits me in the chest. It makes me wonder how many hugs Winter has gotten over the years—as a child. Even on the days my mom thought I was an idiot, she hugged me.
Winter barely mentions her mom. I know the relationship is fraught. With her dad too. And like a lightning strike to grass, I immediately and irrationally hate them both.
My mom is here within weeks of finding out about Vivi, and she lives a province away. Winter’s parents live a little over an hour away and I’ve not seen hide nor hair of them.
I’ve been so fixated on jumping into this whole scenario that I haven’t taken a step back to see the full picture beyond Winter, Vivi, and me.
I don’t like what I see. It makes me feel protective in a new way. My palms itch with the urge to make this better for her. To make someone pay for the way they’ve treated her.
Winter’s head tilts as she pulls away from my mom, like she can see the internal struggle playing out on my face.
“Well, Theo told me you were a smart and amazing mom.”
My mom’s hands stay on Winter’s shoulders as she steps back to appraise her. “But he failed to mention justhowthoroughly he overachieved with you.”
“Jesus. Mom, stop.” I scrub at my chin and shake my head. This is so on brand for her. She lives to rib me.
“I was drunk,” Winter deadpans. The only giveaway that she’s joking is the twinkle in her eye. “He looked better with my tequila goggles on.”
I sputter out a laugh. If it means watching her be this comfortable with my mom, I don’t mind getting dragged. I’ve seen the way she eye-fucks the hell out of me with not a single drop of tequila in her system.
I know she wants me. I’m just waiting for her to stop freaking out and realize it.
