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Archie strolled past me, pausing only long enough to recover my phone and pass it to Jake. After a studying look toward me, Archie focused on his father. Jake closed in on my left.
With an impatient glare, Mom focused on me. “We need to talk.”
“So talk,” I challenged her. “I’m standing right here.”
I kept my attention on her. I didn’t doubt Jake or Coop would stop her from hitting me again, but I didn’t want to invite a mistake.
“I’m not having this discussion with you in front of your school. Credit me with some class.”
Jake snorted but said nothing. Ian had my backpack, and Archie was right in his father’s face. “First time for everything, right, Edward?”
“Archie, stop being melodramatic. This is an issue between Madeline and Frankie, and doesn’t concern you.” Mr. Standish glared at Archie. “In fact, allow me to propose a compromise. There’s a park directly across the street, it’s not busy at the moment. We can adjourn the conversation there.”
A muscle twitched in my eyelid. At least Ian had my backpack.
“I’ll give the ladies a lift over there, and you boys can meet us there when classes are done.”
“Frankie’s not getting in that car with either of you,” Archie stated. “You’ve pretty much burned any trust you might have had with her. She doesn’t have to do a damn thing if she doesn’t want to.”
“C’mon, Baby Girl, we can go if you want.” Jake put his hand on the small of my back, but made no other move to get me in motion.
“You are all acting like we’re going to attack her,” Mom sounded disgusted. Really, I didn’t care.
I shouldn’t care.
Dammit. I really shouldn’t care.
My heart pounded so loud, they had to hear it, but no one seemed distracted by it.
“Let’s make this simpler,” Coop said, then cut a look at me. “Do you want to talk to your mom?”
The answer was both a hesitant yes and a very firm no. Mom glared at me. “Fifteen minutes.” It split the difference. “And I’m not going anywhere with you.”
Anger simmered in her eyes, and an ugly look passed over her face. “Fine. But I do not intend to have this conversation with an audience. We can go across the street to the park and meet there. Then your watchdogs will give us some air.”
Watchdogs. “Stop being a bitch, Mom. You don’t get to set the terms because you’re suddenly in the mood to parent. Give it five minutes, you usually get past it really quick.”
I felt more than caught Jake’s sharp look, but Coop nodded once. Mom? She just looked stunned.
Good.
“I’ll give you fifteen minutes after I get across the street, and the guys can stay for it if they want or they don’t have to, but you aren’t dictating the terms.”
Not that I had a single doubt where they stood on it.
“Fine.” She practically ground the word out between her teeth. “Then let’s go.”
“I’ll go with you,” Coop said as Jake slid my phone into my back pocket.
“Bubba, give me her backpack.” Jake caught it, then glanced at me. “I’m going to get my car, and then I’ll meet you over there.”
I nodded. Archie smirked as he turned away from his father. “I’ll grab mine, too. Be five minutes, babe.”
“Thanks, Archie.”
“Always,” he murmured. The look in his eyes told me he wanted to give me a hug, or at the very least, catch my hand, but he did neither.
“I’ll tag along and keep Coop company,” Ian volunteered. “As long as you don’t mind.” His gaze locked on mine, and I blew out a breath.
