Page 134 of Unexpected

“Let’s go home.”

I took the long way back to Hazel’s apartment and carefully watched every car behind us.

When we left the restaurant, I didn’t notice any odd cars in the parking lot or anyone lurking, preparing to follow us. But I wasn’t going to give anyone a chance and my paranoia was on full blast.

I was beginning to believe what Hazel said about us just needing to be more careful, but that changed when she grunted in pain getting into the truck. She waved me off when I tried to help and said she’d be fine, but I was sure there’d be a bruise along her stomach by morning.

Hazel asked me to tell her exactly what Valerie said, and I did, word for word. After hearing it all, she agreed with me that Valerie was nearing the end of whatever she had planned. Her next move would be something big. Once we both came to that realization, we were silent for the rest of the drive.

Hazel was moving in with me. Whether she wanted to or not, I wasn’t letting her need for independence win out over her safety. She’d stay with me until Valerie was dealt with or, if I played my cards right, hopefully forever.

As we approached her apartment, I decided I’d tell her my decision about her living situation the following day. I would be staying with her that night and we’d immediately go to my house for Thanksgiving the next morning. I didn’t want to start an argument when so much had already happened.

We lumbered up the stairs, still silent, and I hoped I’d feel less paranoid once we made it behind the closed, locked door. I’d even parked in front of another building so anyone that might see my truck wouldn’t know which building we were in exactly.

I followed behind Hazel as we approached the second floor but almost ran her over when she paused at the top of the steps. With a grunt, my chest collided with her back, but I wrapped an arm around her to steady her before she could fall forward. I steadied us both, using the railing for support.

“Mom?” Hazel exclaimed after we’d gained our balance. “What are you doing here?”

She removed herself from my grip and crossed the space between the stairs and her front door in a second. The woman was as short as Hazel without heels on and had long salt-and-pepper hair. Her smile was huge, and the resemblance was obvious.

“Now, is that any way to greet your mother?” She flung her arms around her daughter and smoothed her hands down her back. “I’m sorry to surprise you, but surprise! I couldn’t be without my girl on Thanksgiving.” She eyed Hazel up and down with her eyebrows raised. “Well, aren’t you something else. I tried to call you, but you didn’t answer.”

“I’m so happy you’re here,” Hazel said, and I could hear the emotion in her voice as I approached them. “And my phone died at the restaurant. I hope you weren’t standing here for long.”

“Oh, no. Your lovely neighbor right there”—she pointed to the door immediately to the right of Hazel’s—“let me in for a few minutes and gave me a glass of wine. I actually just came out when I saw you walking up the steps.”

“It’s so good to see you, Mom,” Hazel said with a smile that matched her mom’s. If Hazel looked like her mother in the next thirty years, those were some damn good genes.

“Now, who is this?” Hazel’s mom said, pivoting to look at me with raised brows. I was standing close, but not too close, with my hands in my pockets, trying to wait my turn and not freeze my ass off. While also hoping we could hurry along the greetings and head inside.

“Mom, this is Luke. Luke, this is my mom, Laurie.”

Just as my own mom taught me, I greeted her with a smile and stuck out my hand. “It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Cooper.”

Her eyes never left mine and she didn’t make a move to take my hand. Her gaze was observant and contemplative, and I eventually glanced over at Hazel in question as I lowered my hand. Hazel returned my look with a look of her own and a shrug.

“So, you’re the young man that has bulldozed his way into my daughter’s life just after she’s broken off her engagement. Oh, and beat up my ex-future son-in-law.”

“Mom—” Hazel chastised, but Laurie waved her off.

“I’m glad we’ve met. Hazel, let’s go inside, I’m chilly and I’d really like to spend some time with my daughter. There seems to be quite a lot you have failed to mention to me.”

Hazel closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. It was hard to not watch her chest rise and fall, but I could feel her mom’s eyes still boring into my head, so I watched her face instead.

“Yes, let’s go inside.”

Hazel unlocked the door, and I went to grab her mom’s bag that was propped against the wall.

“Oh, I’ve got that,” Laurie said just as I reached for it. Not one to argue with the mother of the woman I love, I pulled back and let them both walk inside in front of me.

Before I could even close the door, Laurie said, “Will we see you tomorrow for Thanksgiving, Lucas?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but Hazel beat me to it. “Actually, Mom. I was going to go over to Luke’s tomorrow and have Thanksgiving with him and his brother.”

“Well, I was hoping we could have dinner here, honey. In your new apartment.” Her voice was sweet, and I knew Hazel probably wouldn’t be able to tell her mom no.

“We can talk about it,” Hazel said. “Luke, let me walk you out. Mom, make yourself at home.”

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