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“She’s the spitting image of you,” I said.
Abby’s eyebrows drew together with a pained expression, even as she huffed a dry laugh.
“Ever since she was little, she’s been obsessed with motorcycles. Right from the start, it was obvious she’s your daughter.”
Then Abby realized what she’d said, touching her lips as if she could take back her words and swallow them into silence.
“I have to go,” she muttered, hurrying past me in the direction Cam had gone.
After Abby disappeared from sight, I remained standing in the empty, sterile-white corridor alone. The cup of coffee Cam bought for me still rested atop the vending machine, with wisps of curling steam rising from it. As I reached up to take it down, I realized I was still holding the picture Cam had shoved into my hand with determination.
I studied Abby’s smiling, blissful face, and a little spark of hope took root in my chest. I understood her reasons for pushing me away, but I clung to the knowledge that she still had feelings for me after all these years. My affection for her wasn’t one-sided.
Maybe I hadn’t lost my second chance after all.
Chapter Six
Abby
Despite Cam’s protests, I didn’t let her out of my sight for the next few days. Speaking with Joel had rattled me down to my bones. Every time I thought about him, I felt like I couldn’t catch my breath and my hands turned shaky.
Memories of our night together continued to rise to the forefront of my mind, no matter how many times I tried to push them down.
His big, calloused hands gliding over my bare skin.
The burn of his stubble against my soft thighs and the heat of his mouththerewhere I ached for him the most.
His lips brushing my ear with his cock buried deep inside me as he whispered,that’s it, my sweet girl, come apart for me, baby.
Then I remembered the man on the gurney—Diablo, Joel had called him—stabbed six times, beaten, as a warning to Joel’s club. This was only the beginning. There would be more bloodshed, more fights, more people hurt.
I closed my eyes, shaking my head as I braced my hands on the kitchen counter. It didn’t matter if I physically still craved Joel. I had no doubt that welcoming him back into our lives would turn our world upside down and I wouldn’t risk that.
“Hey, Mom,” Cam called as she approached the kitchen. “Diana and a few other girls from my softball team are hitting the movies tonight. Can I go?”
The microwave pinged, signaling my mushy TV dinner was finished. I took it out and poked at it with a fork but my appetite had vanished.
“You’re still grounded, aren’t you?”
Cam hesitated.
“Well, yeah, but I just thought…maybe…you might make an exception. I’d be with a bunch of girls in a public theater. It’s totally safe.”
“You can stay home and watch a movie with me instead,” I replied.
She frowned.
“It’s not the same thing. You’re my mom. These are my friends.”
The TV dinner now looked as unappetizing as a wet sponge. I tossed it in the trash with a sigh.
“If I let you out of my sight,” I said. “There’s a chance you’re going to head straight for Joel. You’ve already spoken to him twice when I told you not to. Because of that, you’ve lost your privilege of freedom until you can prove to me that you won’t stay in contact with him.”
Cam clenched her jaw.
“So, you intend to keep me glued to your side until I turn eighteen?”
“If that’s what it takes,” I countered.
