Page 36 of Until Tomorrow Comes
“Your mom is notold.” She whispers back. “Plus, the sun rose like an hour ago.”
I roll my eyes, any response thrown out the window when I hear my mom already talking to us as she comes around the side of the house.
“Morning, Ma. Need a hand?” I motion to the bag hanging from her wrist as she carries a box of pastries.
“Oh good, you’re both up!” She exclaims, as if she hadn’t expected me to be up but came anyway. “No no no, just get the door for me.”
Nodding, I bite my tongue, before taking the back steps two at a time, leaving Kat to walk up with her.
I shouldn’t have done that.
“So, you’re an early riser too, Kat?” My mom questions and my teeth grind together. She has no sense of boundaries.
Although I might just be defensive, considering I knowwhyKat is up early and technically what she asked isn’t necessarily inappropriate.
I don’t hear how Kat answers, instead focusing on opening the back door, and holding it open for them. Kat slips by first, beelining for the coffee machine while my mom rambles on about how Ms. Maria and the owner of the new bar in town keep butting heads. I grab a plate for the pastries she brought with her just as she pushes the box of cinnamon buns and chocolate covered croissants toward me. Mindlessly, I set them out and nod along, not fully listening.
Instead, my attention keeps snagging back on Kat. She moves through my kitchen naturally, pulling out three mugs and setting them next to the coffee maker. As she pivots, heading to the cupboard and reaching on her tiptoes to grab some plates, her long sleeve cropped shirt rides up, revealing more perfect skin. I marvel at how much she’s changed in her short time here.
She is no longer pale or sickly looking, her skin is no longer clinging to her bones.
No, now she shines.
My gaze rolls down her body, admiring the way her thighs flex. It’s an effort to not openly salivate over her how perfect her ass is and focus my efforts into carrying the plate of pastries to the table. Just as I’m about to set it down, something my mom says finally catches my attention.
“Todd asked me to give this to you.” she says nonchalantly. My hand freezes mid-air with the plate. With my jaw painfully clenched, I glance over my shoulder.
Bile bubbles up my throat when I see the brown, green and blue floral save the date in her hand. With a crash the plate shatters on the table, causing Kat to jump with a scared squeal. But all I can focus on is the card being held up.
She didn’t even bother finding different save the dates.
“You should be there. Please, put your issues aside for one day. You’ll regret it if you miss your only brothers wedding to—”
“To my ex-wife. He’s marrying the womanwho cheated on me.” I cut her off, seething while my heart pounds in my chest. From the corner of my eye, I see Kat cover her mouth.
That’s not even the worst of what they did, but I can’t dwell on that right now. My mom sighs, gearing up to defend her reasoning, but I speak first.
“Don’t. Don’t you dare defend what they did.” I shake my head, rubbing at the pain in my chest. “This is bullshit. They knew what they were doing and there’s no forgiving them. I understand he’s your son as well, which is why I never,ever, bring him up to you and would think you would offer the same courtesy.”
“I’m just trying to help…” My mom whines, but I hold a hand up.
“Nothing is going to change how I feel about this.” I run a hand through my hair, glancing at Kat. She watches me with furrowed brows while fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. “You should go, Ma.”
“Jack.” She steps toward me, reaching out to touch my arm but instinctively, I step away. Her hand falls to her side and I almost feel bad that I can’t face this head on like she wants me to. With a heavy breath, she turns to Kat, and every fiber of my being wants to step in front of her to hide her from my mom.
I cross my arms, my fists gripping my shirt while my mom sets the source of my pain on my island. She reaches for her purse, glancing between me and Kat before settling on Kat once more.
“Maybe you can convince him to push things aside for one day and—”
“I would never ask someone to do something that clearly causes them pain.” Kat cuts my mom off. Her voice is low, but I’m stunned by the conviction in her tone. My mom only blinks in response, her mouth opening, and closing like a gasping fish.
Finally, she closes her mouth, placing a hand on top of the save the date and faces me. Tears line her eyes, almost causing me to falter.
“Just… think about it. It would mean the world tomeif you were there.”
I stare out the back door, refusing to respond or give her reason to stay any longer. My mom grabs her purse, pausing once in the doorway before finally leaving, the sound of the front door closing echoes through the house.
Kat doesn’t say anything. Instead, she turns to fill two mugs with coffee. After splashing hers with caramel creamer, she grabs both and makes her way across the kitchen. Stopping in front of me, she offers the mug of black coffee to me.
