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It’s been about a week since the kids and I moved in and I’m still on edge. Anytime there’s a knock at the door, I jump. If Jaxson comes up behind me without me hearing him, I jump. I’m not sure it will ever go away, not until they dig deeper into this Hank guy and he goes away for good.
I hear lowered voices coming from the living room, hushed and urgent. I strain my ear trying to hear, but it’s no use. This house is so big it’s impossible to hear anything that’s going on from up here in the master bathroom. I finish my hair and unplug the hot tool before making my way down the stairs. I’m not paying much attention until I hit the bottom landing and Jaxson is standing there with a much older woman and he looks pissed.
“Well, hello,” she says, her eyes curious and pointed at me. I give her a nervous smile, my eyes flicking between Jax’s unhappy frown and her curious smile.
“Hello…” I say, trailing off, feeling super awkward as they both stare at me.
“Avery, this is my mother, Wanda. She was told not to come over but obviously, she gives no fucks, because here she is.” He waves his arm, and she snaps at him.
“Jaxson, language.” She scolds him and he rolls his eyes.
“Mom, I’m thirty-two years old. If I want to say fuck in my own house, I will.”
She sighs and turns her attention back to me. “And who are you to my son?”
“Uh, well. You see….” I trail off and look at Jaxson for help, but he has his arms crossed over his chest and he looks as if he’s waiting to see if I’ll answer this correctly. I heave out a sigh. “I’m Jaxson’s girlfriend.”
“You sound pained about that, dear.” Mrs. Callaway says, and I roll my eyes.
“That’s because it’s against my own free will,” Jaxson snickers at my comment and rolls his eyes before reaching out and tugging me the rest of the way towards him.
“Mom just came here because she wants to take us all out to dinner,” Jax says with a forced smile and my eyes widen before I turn my attention to Wanda.
“Oh Wanda, that’s so sweet of you. But it wouldn’t be just us three, I’d have to bring the kids and I’d hate to impose. Why don’t you and Jaxson go on to dinner and you and I can do lunch another time?” Jaxson snorts from beside me and I elbow him in the stomach.
“Oof. Jesus, Avery.”
“Oh, pish posh. The more the merrier!” She claps her hands together and moves towards the stairs, hollering up for the kids. I turn to Jax and bug my eyes out at him, making a throat cutting motion. He bends down and places his lips right beside my ear and whispers.
“Oh no, IfIhave to go to dinner with her, y’all are going to be miserable right along with me.” I narrow my eyes at him just as I hear the kids parading down the stairs. Wanda introduces herself and the kids seem excited about going out to eat, so it’s not like I can say no without hurting everyone’s feelings. I sigh and gesture for the kids to get a move on and they both scurry to the mud room for their shoes.
“Blake Austin, make sure you have two shoes!” I call after them and Jaxson’s deep chuckle vibrates through my body, since he still has his arms wrapped around me.
“You can let go now,” I say, my annoyance lacing my voice.
“Pass.”
Wanda laughs at our banter. “Oh Jaxson, I always knew it would take someone special to make you change your ways.” He grunts at that and squeezes me. The kids choose that moment to come back to the front foyer and Wanda shoos them out the front door, talking a mile a minute.
“Do you want to ride with your mom or with me?” Wanda asks as we make our way out.
“She’s not our mom,” Blake says, skipping down the steps. Wanda looks a little surprised by that.
“She kidnapped us,” Vie says and Wanda gasps.
“Genevieve,” I hiss as Jaxson locks the front door, laughing his ass off. “You can’t tell people I’m your kidnapper!” She smiles at me, cheekily, and rolls her eyes.
“Fine, yeesh. She’s our sister, whoaaa,” Vie says, skittering to a stop. “Is that your car?” She’s referring to the jeep that’s parked in Jaxson’s massive driveway, cherry red with its top down and the doors off.
“It sure is,” Wanda says.
“Killer! I’m totally riding with you!” She races to the jeep and jumps in the passenger side. Blake tugs on my shirt.
“Tan I ride with her, too?” He asks and Jaxson gives permission before I have a chance to say anything, grabbing the car seat out of my rusty station wagon and belting it into his mom's car. He helps Blake into his seat and belts him before coming back to his truck and opening the passenger side door up for me.
“Hop in, Ace.”
“Where are we going?” I ask as he turns the truck over and follows his mom out of the driveway and onto the main road.
