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“What- What are you talking about?”
“What do you mean?” She steps a little closer, looking confused bymyconfusion. “Hunter said that you needed help packing your things to take to his place.” After a second, realization dawns on her and she shakes her head while letting out a soft laugh. “I swear these men.”
“Hunter wants me to move in with him?”
Her perfectly manicured eyebrow raises as she smirks at me. “Told you he was into you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Sebastian
I really don’t wantto be back here, but it’s necessary. It’s been a month since everything went down with Hastings. Alec ended up exacting revenge, then they put his body in the apartment building and Grant re-detonated the bomb. The psychotic fucker ended up being blown to smithereens by his own fucking explosives. If that’s not karma, I don’t know what is.
It took a little over a week to get all of Anya’s stuff moved over to my place. It only took so long because Doc came and checked her out and said that she really needed to rest. Hastings didn’t just use chloroform on her. He used his own cocktails of drugs that really messed with her head. It took a few days for everything to seemingly go back to normal. I didn’t want to add any pressure or stress on her, so we took our time getting her moved over.
For the past three weeks, I’ve been getting the usual notifications and messages from the landlord. As much as I just want to do this cold-turkey, I can’t.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Anya’s voice is soft from the passenger seat. She’s been pretty quiet our entire drive here. I tried to convince her to stay home, but she refused. In hindsight, we may not have been together for very long, but she already seems to know what’s best.
“I need to do this. Once and for all.” Her lips fold in and it’s obvious she wants to say something but she’s holding back. “You don’t think I should?”
“I just want you to know that it’s okay if you can’t.” She cups my cheek in her hand, and I can’t help but lean into the warmth of her soft hand. “And no matter what, I’m here for you.”
“I know, baby.” I let her pull me into a soft kiss, hating how quickly she pulls away.
I let out a long breath and climb out of the car and Anya follows suit. She grabs my hand as we walk up to the row home where I know my mother is waiting. Unlike every other time before, this time I let her know I was coming and asked her to make sure she was home. The only reason I know she’ll be here like I asked is because of the possibility of money. She knows that when I come to town, it’s usually for financial reasons. So she’s not going to miss the opportunity to get money from me.
A part of me really doesn’t want Anya to see this part of my life. To meet the person that helped more than most to shape me into the person I am today. I try not to let my worries take over. Anya loves me, so she’s not going to let something as dumb as not liking my mother get in between us. But for the first time in my life, I have someone I want to hold onto and the fear of losing her is the greatest I’ve ever faced.
I knock on the door, the idea of letting myself in not feeling right considering what’s about to happen. Anya leans into me, wrapping both of her slender arms around mine. She places a soft kiss on my shoulder. How this woman can do something so simple and casual and still turn me into a puddle at her feet, I’ll never understand. But I really just don’t think I want to try.
The door swings open and the woman standing in front of me is practically a stranger. Besides the basic features, she looks absolutely nothing like the mother I knew growing up. Her once shiny black hair has turned faded and gray from age and mistreatment. Even the once golden and bright eyes are a dull and lifeless brown. Her skin is weathered and worn from the decades of alcohol and drugs.
“What was so important?” She sneers but steps out of the way to let us through the door. My chest expands from the energy I have to use in order to not lose it on her. I could. I could just yell and scream and give her a piece of my mind, then I could walk out the door and never see her again. But I don’t.
“Mother,” I say calmly. I hate the sound of that word because this woman is not a mother. Not a real one that actually deserves the love and admiration of her child. “This is Anya, my girlfriend.” Her eyes scan Anya scrutinizingly and I have to stop myself from stepping in front of my girlfriend just to keep her to myself. She wanted to come to help support me, to be here for me. But I also don’t want to have to share with anyone. Not even for a short time.
“You actually found someone to love you, huh?” She lets out a low huff of laughter like she’s joking, but I know she’s not. There was a time in my life when her words would hurt me. They would remind me that I was never wanted, that I was nothing more than a burden on her life. But they don’t do that anymore. The only effect they have on me now is the reminder that she’s become the burden. Every time things in my life seem to be going well, or smoothly, she’s the one who does something to throw a wrench in it all.
She starts to turn toward the kitchen, probably to get herself a drink even though it’s only nine in the morning.
“Yeah, imagine that.” There’s no humor in my words, and I can tell that Anya wants to say something, to speak up. I also know that she won’t. She knows that I want to be the one to do this once and for all and do it my way.
“I’m only here to tell you I’m done.” She stops in her tracks halfway to the kitchen and slowly turns back to me. There’s a mixture of emotions on her face and I know she’s processing what exactly that could mean.
“What do you mean,you’re done?”
“Exactly what I said. I can’t do it anymore. I’ve paid your rent and main utilities through the rest of the year, and I just deposited five grand into your bank account. Once that’s all run out, you’re on your own.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” It’s a loud, almost inaudible screech and I can tell it makes Anya jump slightly, but I don’t react to it. “You’re just going to let me be broke and homeless.”
“You have a job.” My voice is calm and level and judging by the way her face turns bright red, I know it’s only pissing her off even more.
“Well yeah, but it’s a shit job at the gas station. It’s barely enough to pay for my-” She cuts herself off and now I one hundred percent know I am making the right choice.
“Pay for your what? Your drugs?” She doesn’t look me in the eyes, and there’s no doubt that I’m right. I also know what’s going to come next. Anya is standing next to me staying silent, but I can feel her support. I know she’s here and even though I’m not actually looking at her, she’s the strength I need right now.
“That’s not my problem anymore. I’ve given you more time and money over the past decade than you ever did my entire childhood, and I’m done.”
