Page 27 of One Wild Ride

Perhaps whatever Bradley had to tell me might distract me from my invisible love life. It might even cheer me up. Even if he was an employee, Bradley was still nice and friendly.

“It’s about Aria. Something happened when she came here this morning and I wanted you to know about it.” He took a step into my room but hesitated to move farther.

“What happened?”

“I know you like her, Alex, but as head of your security I must warn you.”

“Okay . . .” I said a little confused.

His eyes flickered up to the corner of the wall where the mural would go. I began removing some of the wallpaper yesterday but a few strips remained.

“When she came in this morning, she went straight to the security room and walked inside. It’s as if she knew where it was and began looking around.”

Why would she do that? There had to be a mistake.

“Maybe she got lost and—” Before I could finish another voice cut me off.

“Alexander, my beautiful boy, I am so glad you are here.” My mother’s deep voice caused everyone in the room to straighten.

“Mom, what are you doing here?” I stood as she walked past Bradley and went straight to the wall.

“Why, I’ve come to see the progress on your little mural. I have to be honest, Alexander, it looks terrible.”

“Aria hasn’t started yet. I only picked out the picture today. As you can see, I am still tearing down the wallpaper.” I waved my hand at the two remaining strips on the wall.

She gasped and swiftly walked over to me, taking my hands in hers. “Oh no. Tell me you didn’t rip that paper down yourself?”

I shook my head. My mother and her spoiled ways. She believed manual labor was for the hired help, not for us.

“Of course, I did it myself. It’s not that hard. You may revel in not ever having to lift a finger, but I’m not you.”

She stood a little straighter and scoffed, “That is not something a Hawthorne does. Don’t you understand, Alexander? This name means something or I wouldn’t have put up with your father for as long as I did.”

As much as I hated my mom’s views on work and privilege, she was right about my father. She did tolerate much at his hands.

“I never asked you to stay with Dad.” I put my hands on her shoulders causing her brows to lift. “You should have left long ago. We would have been fine. Just the two of us.”

In that moment, something passed over her eyes. It was gone as quickly as it came, but I witnessed it. Regret. Pain. A need so great I wondered if my arms were wide enough to hold it.

As it disappeared, the mother I have come to know returned with her guarded and cold features. And I knew there was no point in getting her to understand anything.

“That was long ago and your father is no longer with us. We never need to worry about him again.”

She pulled away from my arms. My touch was warm and loving, and she couldn’t be reminded of something she no longer wanted.

“So, the mural. I’m glad we are changing this wall. You were right, Alex, this did need something fresh.”

“Alex, I’ll come back later so we can discuss Ms. Dixon.” Bradley nodded at me.

“What about Ms. Dixon?” my mother asked without turning her head to acknowledge Bradley.

Bradley’s eyes flickered to mine. He knew my mother almost as well as I did. She was the one to hire him five years ago. It was to keep me safe, as she put it. I don’t know why I would need a bodyguard since I rarely went outside.

I think my mom only hired Bradley to keep an eye on me.

“Ms. Dixon went into the security room when she arrived today, Mrs. Hawthorne. When I confronted her about it, she appeared nervous. I wanted Alex to know that.”

“Mom, I think she just got lost.” I felt the need to defend Aria even though I didn’t know why she walked into the security room.

“How could she have gotten into that room? Isn’t it locked, Bradley?” My mother turned to face him. Her dark wool blazer, tailored to her form, wrinkled as she crossed her arms.

“I must have left it open when I went to the bathroom. I didn’t think anyone would walk in,” Bradley said as he wiped his head over his brow. He knew what was coming.

What happened was a mistake and Bradley knew it. My mother detested mistakes.

Her gray eyes locked onto Bradley. He seemed to straighten the closer she moved. But when she reached him, my mother did something she rarely does—she touched him.

Her hand gently tapped his chest. “Thank you for letting us know, Bradley. I’m sure you weren’t expecting her to be here and didn’t think to close the door behind you. But now you know, don’t you? You know to keep a watchful eye,” my mother’s head turned toward me, “on people who don’t know us. Strangers only ever want to take from us. We need to keep our guard up.”

Her mouth curved, and it reminded me of how she used to smile at me, before my father died. Back when she loved me.

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