Page 87 of Silent Damage

Jason’s laughter dies down, and his face softens. “It’s good to hear you laugh,” he says.

I blush, knowing it feels good to laugh again, especially with him.

We stare at each other while we catch our breath, but then his face twists with rage, and the shift startles me.

His eyes darken as he says, “A bruise is forming.”

I hurry to grab the ice from his hand, hoping that covering it will calm him down, but Jason is on his feet. “That fucker’s taking a dirt nap.”

Before he can leave the trailer, I wrap my arms around his waist, pull him onto the couch, and straddle his lap to keep him in place.

“Let me up, Gabe.”

I shake my head no.

He clenches his jaw and grits out, “Get off me.”

I hold his face so he can’t look away from me. “Please don’t leave me,” I whisper. “Don’t go over there.”

He stills, and so do I.

My arms slowly wrap around his neck, and Jason’s face softens.

“No one gets to hurt you,” he whispers.

So, I lean closer and whisper back, “So, stop hurting me.”

The air leaves the room. He looks at me with wounded eyes and whispers my name.

I rest my forehead on his, fully intent on just staying like that for a moment, but Jason moves forward and slants our lips together. Whatever I was mad about before vanishes once our tongues connect. Soon, I’m rutting against his hard dick, yearning for him to tear off those jeans and fuck my—

“Oh my!”

Mom’s voice sends me sailing backward, falling to the ground and scrambling to wipe my mouth.

Of what?

I don’t know.

Evidence?

Jason crab-walks backward along the sofa, stopping at the far end, furthest away from Mom.

We look at each other, then Jason yells, “Linda! Please…please don’t be mad.”

Mom holds up her finger to stop him, then takes a breath. She scrubs her hands over her face, sighing, but soon that sigh morphs into a chuckle. Then a full-on belly laugh. “I should have seen that coming,” she says through laughter.

We both watch her have a moment that nearly matches the one we just had. It’s all just…so ridiculous.

Finally, Jason asks her, “Will you tell Doug?”

Mom looks at him with a soft expression before speaking. “No. That’s for you to share. If you want to.”

Then she looks at me and gasps, “You have a shiner!” She rushes forward to inspect my face. “I’ll kill him!” she blurts out.

“Not if I do it first,” Jason adds.

“NOBODY IS KILLING ANYONE!”