Page 45 of The Heavier The Chains…
Turning towards Talon, I immediately wanted to slap his face. “This isnotfunny, Talon,” I hissed. “Your mother is…is…she’s going toknow.”
“Kenzlee, it’s fine,” he said, chuckling. He reached for my hand, and threading his fingers with mine, walked me out of his room, through the living room, and through the kitchen.
A petite, older woman, who looked exactly like Edie, stared at us walking through her living room, and she was doing a horrible job at hiding her shock. Her eyes were wide, and dancing back and forth between me and Talon, but I finally saw where Talon and Edie got their incredible eyes from.
A hole in the ground would be great right now.
“I…I didn’t realize you had company, son?” she stammered.
Talon snorted as he pulled me behind him to stand in front of his mom. “Kenzlee’s not company, Mom,” he said. “She’s my girlfriend.”
Mrs. Draven’s eyes grew wider. “I’m…I’m sorry…yourgirlfriend?”
Talon chucked as he leaned in to give his mom a kiss on the cheek. “Don’t act so surprised, Mom. I do like girls, you know.” Then Talon went on to ignore her shock and disregard my shame and said, “Edie will be home soon She’s catching a ride with someone in her debate group. I started dinner. I’ll have your lunch packed by the time you get out of the shower and are ready for work.”
Never mind Talon’s mom’s shock.
I stood there staring at this complex boy as he checked on the dinner he started and took control of his household, taking care of his sister and mother.
Holy shit.
His mom kept looking back and forth between us before she finally looked at me and said, “Kenzlee, is it?” I nodded. “Hi, Kenzlee. I’m Helen Draven. It’s…uh, good to meet you.”
And that hole in the ground would have come in a might big handy right about now, because what I said next will haunt me the rest of my days. “I’m so, so sorry, Mrs. Draven,” I blubbered. “It was inappropriate and disrespectful, and I’m terribly sorry. I…I shouldn’t have been in your son’s bed and I should have paid you and your home more respect. I…oh, my God,” I cried, mortified. “I’m so sorry. I…I completely understand if you…if I’m no longer welcomed here.” I shook my head sadly. “I wouldn’t want a disrespectful hussy with my son either, ma’am,” I whispered quietly.
The silence was louder than anything I’ve ever heard in my life.
Mrs. Draven’s eyes were blinking, and I feared she might be having a seizure, whereas Talon was staring at me with his mouth hanging open. It took only a few short seconds for everything I just said to play back through my head, and the heat creeping up my neck was unmistakable.
Talon finally cleared his throat and said, “Uh, I had planned on telling her that we were just hanging out and that you fell asleep while I was cooking dinner, had she asked, Kenz.”
I hugged my arms around my waist and mumbled to the floor, “Do you think you can take me home now, Talon?”
The asshole laughed. “Not on your life, babe.”
I felt a small, dainty hand on my arm, and it was rubbing up and down in a soothing motion. “Sweetheart,” his mother said softly, “it’s okay.” I looked up at her pretty face, and she had the sweetest, softest expression. “I’m just surprised because Talon’s never brought a girl home or has had a girlfriend that I’ve known of.” She smiled sweetly. “It’s really nice to meet you.”
“You don’t think I’m a hussy?” I asked in a humiliated whisper.
She shook her head. “No, I don’t,” she assured me. “I think my son must be in love with you for you to be in my home. So, no, I don’t think badly of you. I just hope you both are being responsible.”
“Mom,” Talon groaned.
She laughed as she walked off saying, “Just wait until after graduation to make me a grandma.”
∞∞∞
Talon~
Mom got ready for work, and after sending her off with her lunch, she’s the one who actually dropped Kenzlee off at home. I hadn’t liked it, but I had to feed Edie and make sure she was okay.
I didn’t mind the responsibility, but I didn’t like not being the one to take Kenzlee home. However, now that we were doing this, I was hit with just how hard it was going to be to be without her. I knew realistically she couldn’t live with me, but I wished for that scenario. A part of me even wanted to argue that she was technically a grown adult; she didn’t need her family’s permission to move in with me. But I also knew she’d never go for it.
Baby steps.
When my mom had gone to get ready, Kenzlee had collapsed in utter embarrassment and had wanted to run from the house. She didn’t think she’d ever be able to face my mom again. I did my best to assure her that my mother didn’t live in La-La Land and she knew I was legally an adult and got into stuff. All she cared about was that I was safe and not burying dead bodies in the backyard. I’m not sure if she believed me, but she did relax a bit and didn’t flip out when my mom came back into the kitchen to help me prepare her lunch for work.
When Mom had come back into the kitchen, Kenzlee had excused herself to go freshen up, and Mom used those few precious moments to drill me. She thought Kenzlee was an absolute darling and was happy to see me with a girl who showed some morals and backbone no matter how embarrassing. She also reminded me that she’d kill me if I got Kenzlee in trouble and didn’t do right by her. When I mentioned that I’d marry her today if she’d say yet, that shut her up.
