Page 31 of Secret Crush

Chapter Eleven

This mansion with the view of the bay made Alice's body tremble. She hadn't been in a home this austere since she'd picked up Victoria from her father's house to go to school. Modern art gave splashes of color on the walls, but the entire space was sterile and lifeless. Alice rubbed her arms. She couldn't live without warmth for long. Unlike his family, hers was in her life and not going anywhere. Her parents and brother checked on her every day.

John called out from the right, "Are you hungry?"

He must be in the kitchen. She turned and followed his voice, but then her phone rang. She saw her mother's number. Her heart raced as she answered, "Mom?"

"Where are you? Are you okay? I saw the news."

Alice touched the pendant. She couldn't lie to her mother, ever, and she wouldn't start now. She gazed out a window that overlooked the blue water. "I'm fine. I can't come home tonight."

"Why? What happened?"

Alice had no idea how to explain. She wasn't a child, but her mother was the closest thing she'd had to a friend for some time. She held her breath and chose her words with care. "Someone was shot at the funeral."

Her mother's voice had an edge of steel. "Come home. I want you here."

Alice paced back to the living room. "Mom, I'm fine."

"Then why aren't you with your family?"

"It's complicated."

"Which of those Morgan brothers is trying to steal you?"

Score one. Alice gritted her teeth and cleared her throat. "Mom…."

"You'd be home if that wasn't the case. Peter is just like his father and you never liked Jennifer. John?"

"That's not it." Alice should have moved out long ago. Her mother had no idea. Other women her age moved to the city and had sex every night, maybe even with a different guy. Alice swallowed. Her television probably lied about that life, but that didn't stop how her face heated. "Mom, I'm staying with John tonight."

The disgust in her mom's voice was palpable. "Where? I'm coming to get you."

This wasn't happening. Alice went back to pacing. "I can take care of myself, Mom. Victoria is alive."

"Don't divert this conversation."

She envisioned her mother with her arms crossed and blowing smoke like a dragon. "It's true. Vicki is alive."

"Is she there? Put her on the phone."

Alice knew her mother had her hand on her hip like she didn't believe a word. Alice shook her head and swayed on her feet. "That wasn't on the news?"

"I don't believe you. If you don't tell me where you are, I'm calling the police."

Dad's health meant Alice had spent too long at home. To help. She remembered the four wonderful years she'd been away to college when no one questioned anything she did. "Mom, I'm fine. I'll explain everything soon."

"You'd better. If John hurts you then I'm having your father shoot him."

This was ridiculous. Alice lifted her chin. "You're being silly. Don't include Dad in your insanity. We want him to live a nice long life."

"You were holding John's hand and the news reporter said you were his girlfriend."

She swallowed. Reason always won with her mother. "Stop. You know better. The last time I saw any of them was at Vicki's funeral. Right now, what I do doesn't concern you."

"Yes it does. I'm your mother."

This conversation was too much. "And I'm an adult." Alice hung up, shaking her head. So much for being reasonable. She put her phone on the small end table by the couch and turned back toward the windows.

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