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And Kaelyn’s mother asks if anyone’s home.
And I realize my plans are shot.
Kaelyn goes stiff in my arms. “We can pretend we’re gone.”
I tap her nose. “Both our cars are outside.”
She frowns. “Right.”
I kiss her gently and then release her so I can go find my clothes.
She walks to the living room.
As I pull my trousers up, I hear her mom ask for me. I grin, wishing I could hear what Kaelyn gave as an excuse for me staying over.
I’ve never done that before. Ever. Even when she moved into her own place, I was usually gone by midnight. No later. It was my way of respecting her. Of keeping boundaries.
My belt jangles as I pull it through the loops.
Her mom’s voice goes quiet.
I wonder what they’re saying. I wonder if Kaelyn’s biting on her bottom lip and glancing down in guilt. I wonder if her mom can smell me on her. Can smell what I did to her daughter.
I wonder.
And then I start to get nervous.
Shaking my head, I finish buttoning my shirt and plod down the hall. Ms. Vanessa stares at me when I emerge from Kaelyn’s bedroom. I don’t know why she seems so surprised. She knew I was here.
“Kastle.” She gives me a quick once-over.
Kaelyn winces. She knows.
I nod. Keep my expression cool though my heart is bursting. “Morning, Ms. Vanessa.”
“Morning…” She draws out the word. Her eyebrow arches.
This woman has been more of a mother to me than my own. I remember many days sitting around her kitchen counter eating spaghetti, doing homework, and feeling ‘normal’. Whatever the hell that meant.
I didn’t expect my relationship with Kaelyn to get exposed so quickly, but I’m glad the first person to know is her.
Vanessa inhales a deep breath and turns to her daughter as if coming out of a daze. “Well, then… um… right. Kastle’s here. Kastle… right.”
Kaelyn’s lips twitch. I meet her eyes, noticing how relaxed she’s becoming.
We’ve switched roles.
She’s unbothered and here I am sweating bullets.
This woman…
Vanessa shakes her head. Somberness slips into her eyes. “To the point. Okay. I came to check if you were alright, Kae.”
“Me?” Kaelyn tilts her head. “Why?”
“Because of the articles.”
“What articles?” I ask.
