Page 48 of Happenstance
Lana’s lips twisted as she mockingly shook her head and grumbled, “No ma’am.”
Smack!!
Damn, I felt that one.
Should I help her?
“You don’t get to be selfish anymore.” This time she smacked Lana so hard the force of her hit propelled her forward.
Fuck that. She made her bed, let her lie in it.
I couldn’t help but snicker as Lana grumbled and rubbed her ass.
“You ready to go, Angel?”
Her lip curled. “No.”
“Well, you better hurry up. The boys will be here in ten minutes.”
Her pretty pink lips twisted in a frown. “The boys?”
“That’s right,” I nodded, “Logan and Preston are going to help.”
I couldn’t think of two better people to remind Lana of what was at stake, should she decide to change her mind last minute. And judging by the look on her face, my assumption was one hundred percent accurate.
There’s no backing out now, baby.
Chapter 15
Lana
Imanaged to convince Parker that his friends didn’t need to come and help. Nothing I had was heavy, and most of the boxes were already in my car. Knowing Nan wouldn’t have to meet Preston allowed me to breathe. Until Parker announced they’d meet us at the house. The same house Nan insisted on coming to.
She wanted to make sure it was up to her standards, or so she said. Considering the Whitley’s weren’t lacking in financial means, I doubted she’d find anything wrong with the place. Though I don’t think that was why she was currently sitting in the passenger seat of my car. She was coming to suss out how well the Whitley’s would treat me, plain and simple. Exactly why I didn’t want her to come. If Nan got one whiff that something sketchy was going on, she’d be on the war path. I had enough trouble with Sean poking the sharks in the water. I didn’t need to add her to that list.
“My baby,” Nan said as we drove through security at Meadow Springs.
Meadow Springs was neatly tucked into one of the forests at the top of the bluffs. It was the kind of place where you couldn’t see your neighbor and everyone had staff, bodyguards, or both. Out of the two gated communities in Ashen Springs, I knew this one best. Harper lived here, as did Silas. It was the place the rich set up residence, and where the Whitley family should’ve lived. Parker’s dad, Dean, was the only powerful man I knew that didn’t flaunt his money. I liked that about him.
Following Parker’s truck, I turned down a long driveway. Apparently he didn’t follow the same philosophy as his dad. The white house I was staring at was so massive I began to wonder if house was the proper term. Large marble pillars stood proud on the deck, wrapping around the side, holding up a balcony on the second floor. My eyes skimmed over the largest windows I’d ever seen, to the pretty little flowers in black pots by the dark blue double doors. The big red bow both warmed my heart and terrified me. It was marking this grand place as if it were a present. A much too big and way too extravagant present.
“You’re moving up in the world, baby girl.”
The look on Nan’s face wasn’t helping any. I couldn’t tell if she was being sarcastic, or serious. I guess most parents would be happy to see their child taken care of like this, but Nan wasn’t most parents. We lived by the philosophy of love, because that was all someone needed to make a place a home. That warm environment was what I wanted for my children. I placed my hand on my stomach, wondering if that was possible. Would my babies have a place they could feel safe and loved, or would this be one of those horrible mistakes that would mess them up for life?
Ever since I’d felt them kick, that was all I could think about. What would be best for my children? Last night I kept rolling over everything I’d done. How hard I tried to deny that they were there. Would they know that? Could they sense my hesitation to bond with them? I didn’t even start taking maternity vitamins until I went to the free clinic. What if that caused problems? Would they come out malnourished and broken?
Nan said these were normal concerns for a new mother, but their father didn’t have that problem. He loved them from the start. I was their mother, and I couldn’t bring myself to touch them. Guilt clawed away at my insides as I watched Parker get out of his truck to greet Logan and Preston. I didn’t deserve these babies.
“Come on, Angel,” Parker called over to me. “Come see your house.”
My house. My babies. My family. All truly terrifying thoughts.
“I know you’re scared, my sweet girl,” Nan grabbed my hand and gazed deep into my eyes, “But you got this. This is your life, and you need to take those reigns and steer that horse.”
Tears dripped down my cheek, splashing in tiny wet dots on my jeans. “I can’t, Nan.”
“Yes you can, child.”
