Page 34 of Shadow and Skulls

Little does she know I already have.

“I’m going to head out,” JD says, interrupting us.

“Did you get your keys?”

Oh fuck. I was supposed to drop his keys off to him. He looks at me.

“I’m sorry, Mom. I forgot to drop them off to him. They’re at the store.”

He stands up, reaching across the counter to cup my cheek. “That’s okay. You’ve been busy. I’ll get them tomorrow.”

His gaze roams over my face, his brows pulling tight. Silently, I beg him not to say anything about Tank.

“Stop by the junkyard tomorrow,” he says. “I have something I want to show you.”

“Yeah, sure.” My head falls, my cheeks burning.

He pats the top of my head.

“I’ll walk you out,” my mom tells him.

The minute the door closes, I rush upstairs to hide the vibrator. As I’m tucking it away, my stomach does a little flip. I busy myself drying my hair. She’ll be up here soon.

Sure enough, she appears in my doorway. “Can I see it?”

Using the hairdryer, I point to the jewelry box on my dresser.

She makes her way over to it. I watch her in the mirror as she swipes at her eyes, dangling the necklace in front of her face.

“I think you should wear it,” she says, not taking her eyes off the shiny trinket.

“I don’t have anything to wish for,” I tell her, shutting the hair dryer off and laying it on the vanity.

“That’s not the only thing it’s good for.” She steps behind me and drapes it over my neckline. “It started as a gift of love … it travels by love. Charlotte loves you, Kelsie. She wants to see you happy.”

“I love her too, but I don’t want to lose it.”

“I’m not saying that won’t happen, but if it does, it will be okay. Everything happens for a reason. It will end up exactly where it belongs.”

My finger runs over it as I stare at her reflection.

“My friend, Jenny, would have loved you. She’d be pleased to know my daughter was wearing it.”

She takes the brush from me and begins to run it through my hair. “Are you ready to talk about what happened between you and Jason?” The way her eyes dart away from mine tells me this has been weighing heavily on her. “You know, my first boyfriend coerced me into thinking I owed him something. Is that what happened with you?”

My head falls. The woman is too perceptive sometimes. I should have talked to her about this before now, but I guess it’s just embarrassing. He only went out with me to get in my pants. I, of all people, should have seen through him.

“He wanted more than I was willing to give,” I tell her honestly.

“Did he …?” Her hands fall from my hair as she holds the brush to her stomach.

“He didn’t force me,” I tell her honestly.

She nods, settling herself on the vanity bench beside me. “But that doesn’t mean …” She stops herself, shaking her head. “I’m sorry for pushing you off on him last night. I just wanted you to have fun with your friends and be happy again.” She runs her hand down her face.

“Mom, I am happy. It’s fine. We broke up. We’re finished. Let’s not worry about him anymore, okay?”

“Are you sure that you’re okay? You’ve been so quiet lately.”

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