Page 118 of Possess Me! (I Want You To)

Boyfriend.

Boyfriend?

What the hell?

I almost wanted to laugh, the ridiculousness of the situation hitting me like a slap to the face. I would have, too, if I hadn’t realized—too late—what was about to happen. Oh no. Oh no, no, no. I should’ve warned him—

Horror was probably written all over my face as Mom’s lips split into a wide, wicked grin, her eyes gleaming evilly. “Ah.” She nodded, knowingly. “I see.”

Standing behind her like a gangly blond beanpole, Paul’s eyes were just as wide, his grin just as bright. The shimmer to his gaze meant tears might spill should he smile any bigger. He towered over my mom’s figure despite the fact that she was rather tall herself.

Their twin expressions made me simultaneously want to laugh and cry.

His eyes said, I knew you could do it.

Mom’s said, It’s about time.

And I was suddenly, viscerally aware of what she was about to say, before she even said it. I should’ve planned this better—

I should’ve—

“So thiiiiis is what’s been keeping you busy.” Mom’s smile only grew bigger, her eyes twinkling with mischief. Both my parents were decked out in matching teal tracksuits, their arms laden with grocery bags bursting at the seams. I couldn’t help but cringe as it occurred to me, for the first time, that both of them were about to embarrass the hell out of me in front of Prudence. “Why didn’t you say so?! Keeping us all in suspense.”

Paul nodded along earnestly, sniffling, a single happy tear slipping down his cheek. Oh no. Now Paul was crying. I shouldn’t be surprised—the man cried about everything.

The Bears won a game? Instant tears.

I got a C on my math test? Instant tears.

One of the tomatoes from the grocery store was freakishly tiny and needed a home? Tears.

He took a step forward and I was too shocked by my mother’s words to stop him as he placed the groceries on the counter, then crossed the distance between us to gently pluck all the food I was carrying out of my arms. He gave my shoulder a single familiar squeeze before he turned toward the counter to begin cooking.

“Wh—” I didn’t even know what to say. Before I could protest this new development, I felt a sharp slap hit my ass cheek and a startled squawk left my lips. Prudence glared at me, and my cheek stung as I huffed out a disbelieving breath.

“Don’t ignore your mother.” Prudence’s fingers dug in briefly before he retreated.

I hadn’t thought it was possible to be more mortified, but apparently it was.

“Oooooo, he’s a keeper,” Mom chirped happily, an impish grin on her cheeks. “You see that Paul?”

“Sure did.”

“Oh my good god.” I could not believe this was happening.

“Sit down,” Prudence commanded.

I sat down. My ass burned.

If Mom grinned any wider her smile would fall off her fucking face.

The dining room table had clearly multiplied its cells since I’d been here last, because it was twice as large as it had been at Christmas. Prudence stood guard behind my chair, staring at my mom, his eyes narrowed, like he wasn’t sure if she was for real or not.

She was for real, for sure.

My cheeks tingled.

“Take a seat, baby,” Mom commanded Prudence, pointing to the chair beside mine. “We don’t bite.”

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