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On the phone with her mom. She’s telling them we’re dating.
Rhyett
How’s it going?
Jameson
They seem…concerned.
Rhyett
Fair. I would be too, if my daughter was dating someone like you. *winking emoji*
Jameson
Fuck off.
Rhyett
But for real, lying to loved ones aside, how is she?
Jameson
I’ve been feeling for her this week—she’s homesick.
Rhyett
Your birthday surprise this weekend should help. Anything else we can do? Christmas in Florida feels like a long way to wait if she’s low.
I lefthis last message on read. Partially because I was transfixed as she paced back and forth across my back porch, and partially because I was still pissed he’d hidden her situation from me when I would’ve been…well, less of a prick, if I’d known what was on her plate. Knowing I needed his help didn’t ease the irritation at the fact.
Noel had texted her sister, Maddie, to tell her she was seeing someone. Her mother had all three of them on a video chat so fast my head spun as she skirted outside. It seemed…tense. To say the least. I couldn’t blame them.
Their sister/daughter fled five thousand miles away to escape an abuser, only to ‘fall into bed with some guy’, and then said ex re-materialized like the phantom psycho stalker he was. I’d already have my ass on a seat on the way to the airport if I were Alex.
We’d decided—together—that we wouldn’t tell her mother this was fake. Or that it had started out that way. Because who the hell knew what it was now? Neither of us was eager to broach the subject.
According to her daughter, Frankie McShane was many amazing things, but a liar wasn’t one of them. Should she have the opportunity to spread the news of our relationship on her side of the country, with her connections to the Connely family, it would be best if she one hundred percent believed I was in love with her daughter. Fuck, I was beginning to believe the same thing.
Fast.Too fast.That word hadn’t even been uttered internally since Steffy. It sure as shit shouldn’t be traipsing across my mind now.
When she at last tossed her phone to the cushioned patio couch, I huffed a breath and made a beeline for her. Noel returned to her pacing, even as I stepped outside and made my way to a chair. The third time she walked by me, my hands jutted out to snatch her waist. Her air whooshed out as she complied, melting against my hands and pouring herself over my lap.
“They mad?”
“Not…mad, exactly,” she said, eyes sliding closed as she leaned her forehead into mine. “Concerned, I think, more than anything.”
“That’s understandable. They don’t know me. Did it help that Brex does?”
My girl nodded. “At least, for Maddie and mom. Alex threatened your imminent demise and promised to call my dad.”
A snort escaped before I stifled it. “Well. If Eric finally meets an untimely death, then I’ll get mildly concerned.”
She grinned at that, shaking her head as life sparkled in those gorgeous brown irises. The relief was fleeting though, worry pinching her brows as she admitted, “I hate lying to them.”
“I know.”
“Maddie seemed suspicious,” Noel said with a grimace.
