Page 17 of The (Maybe) Murderer Who Knocked Me Up

She considers that for a moment. “Meeting up with a guy to do what?”

I lower my gaze to my lap. “You know.”

“You mean sex.”

Sometimes I hate how blunt Mom is, but today it’s kind of nice that she said it out loud so I don’t have to.

“Yeah.”

She uncrosses her arms and rests her elbows on her knees. “You don’t gotta sneak out to do that, okay? You’re eighteen years old. Go out the front door with your clothes on, and tell me where you’re going.”

“I couldn’t. Link doesn’t like this guy. He would freak out of he knew I was seeing him.”

“What guy? Do I know him?” she asks.

I look up at her, hoping she’ll be able to say his name just like she said the word sex. Then I wouldn’t have to admit out loud that I’m with Slade. It’s not that I’m ashamed of him, but I don’t know what she’ll think of me when she finds outs who I chose for a mate.

She waits for me to answer, as patient as ever. I know she’ll love me, no matter what. But I couldn’t bear it if she was disappointed in me, even for a moment.

“Slade,” I finally say.

She tries to mask her surprise, but Mom’s never been a good liar. “Okay. Thank you for telling me.”

“He’s a good guy, Mom.”

She presses her lips together like she doesn’t believe me.

“He really is. He was gentle. He made me feel… good.” That isn’t the right word, but I don’t know how else to describe the way Slade made me feel. Whole? Euphoric? Like I was enough?

“Do you want to know what I think?” she asks.

I nod, even though I’m a little scared to find out.

“I think most people are good. Even people who make mistakes.”

“Slade isn’t making mistakes,” I say.

She gives me a warm smile. “Okay. I believe you. If you tell me Slade is a good guy, then he’s a good guy. And I’m happy that he made you feel good, Sequin. You deserve all the happiness in the world.”

Guilt churns in my gut. Mom has told us plenty of times that she wants to be the first one to know when we put our paws on someone. I should say something.

“I’m serious about him,” I admit.

She holds out her arms to me. I get up off the floor and sit in her lap, even though I’m eighteen years old, and technically a man now. She gives me a tight hug, and I close my eyes, savoring the sensation of being held by my mom. Men aren’t supposed to need this, but it makes me feel safe after the emotional roller coaster of the last twenty-four hours. I don’t regret choosing Slade as my mate, but I know I probably chose him too soon, and I know what people will think of me when they find out. Everything is changing so fast, and I’m not sure I’m ready.

“You’re allowed to be serious about whoever you want,” Mom says.

“I know. But Link?—”

She pulls away from me and looks me straight in the eye. “Link is going away to college next week, along with everybody else.”

“Then you won’t tell them?” I ask.

“Heavens, no. Between you and me, I think it will be good for you to get a little space from Link and Silver. You don’t need their protection as much as they think you do.”

I can’t help but smile at that. “Yeah.”

“Well, I better get started on breakfast. But no more sneaking around, okay? And once your brothers are gone, I don’t mind if Slade spends the night. We’re all adults here. I just don’t want to get any more alarm notifications about that doggie door in the middle of the night.”

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