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Mrs. Meemow herself shortened it to Mrs. Meow and she was forever the cat lady to me.
She was intense, scary at times, but it was obvious she adored my mom so she was okay in my book.
As for my aunt, the divorce was still pending. I never found out what Clint did that day, and when he said it was best if I didn’t know, I was taking it to heart. I’d learned my lesson after the fraternity battle, but he and I were still the trouble twins so we’d done enough other dumb stuff since.
I loved every bit of it.
But next time I was going to wait for Scout because it would’ve been a lot more fun sitting next to my boyfriend.
EPILOGUE
RAMSAY
My mom parked the car by the river, set downtown. We were here to meet Scout and he was getting out of his truck, coming around the back in his coat.
“Okay. Thanks for the ride.” I began to reach for the door.
“Wait.”
“What?”
She had a funny look on her face. “Just, you and him?”
I almost laughed. “Where is this coming from?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I, after last night, I . . . I don’t know.”
Scout had a fight the previous night, and we’d all gone to it—even Amalia. It was the original fight he’d taken against a guy from Cedra Valley. They found out that Max’s father had been the reason the fighter even reached out to Scout for a fight. He offered to sponsor him.
Or, more specifically that Max had been the one who suggested the fighter go against Scout Raiden and Max’s dad looked into who Scout was, found out who his family really was, and that was the reason why the fight was first scheduled. When the news broke later about Max’s family and the connection to Scout Raiden’s girlfriend, that fighter’s team canceled the fight. They hadn’t known and were pissed about being manipulated. But, a month later, they asked again with a new sponsor because it turned out that a fight against Scout Raiden would be good publicity. Scout agreed, and he’d annihilated the guy.
I’d been more nervous if I’d run into anyone I knew from my old town, but only a small group from Cedra Valley came. The fighter, his team, his family, and a few others. No one I knew, but I still made sure to stick with my group.
Now thinking about it, my mom had been quiet after the fight.
Once I realized none of my old frenemies were there, I’d been distracted for a whole other reason, Scout himself.
Watching him fight.
Watching him fight without his shirt.
Watching him without his shirt. Or, really, just watching my boyfriend. There was something about seeing his new tattoo of the Norse rune for freedom that made me want to jump him. He got it the day after his mom went to the police. I’d been salivating over him last night, the tattoo, all his tattoos, but it was hitting me that my mom had also seen him in a very violent manner.
“He’s not like that, Mom. You don’t need to worry about him.”
“Oh. No, no, no.” She waved that off. “I didn’t know when you’d let another boy into your heart. After, you know, but he got in. I don’t think he even knew he was doing it until he was there.”
I almost laughed because it was so true. “It surprised me too.”
“But you do. You love him.”
I nodded. “I do.”
“He’s a good boyfriend. He has been. He’s been thoughtful and kind. Not at all what I thought he’d be like as a boyfriend. You were having sex for so long.”
“Mom.” The back of my neck was heating up.
“I know. I didn’t realize until later, but he’s surprising me. That’s it. And today, this is a very thoughtful thing to do for you.”
I gave a shrug, squirming a little in my seat. “I’ve not seen any whales and we’re in Oregon. It’s one of their migrations.”
“I know, but the boat ride on the river. It’s a long river ride to the ocean, and then going farther out to whale watch is a kind thing to do.”
“Once we get to the ocean, we’re switching to a bigger boat.”
“I know, but the whole thing has been nice. He brought over coffee and donuts this morning. You guys drove around looking at Christmas lights last night. The night before he took you to Pine River’s Winter Fest. Now this today.” Her eyes were shining. Her voice was hoarse. “I’m just happy for you, honey. That’s what I’m trying to say.”
I took her hand in mine and squeezed it. “Some of it is because he’s finally free.”
“I know.” Her voice cracked. She covered it with her mouth. “To think about what he’s been going through, and what he was going to take on for his mom, it just gets to me sometimes. I watched you after Max, and after we lost your father. I didn’t know if you’d ever love again, but you do. You are. You’re happy.”
