Page 89 of Hate the Way You Lie (Hate 2)

“Rose, it’s so good to see you again.” She pulls my mom in for a hug, who returns it with just as much enthusiasm. These two women really understand each other and get along so well. If I can’t get Tara to forgive me completely, I’m not sure Mom will forgive me either for losing her.

“It’s good to see you! Nix has been keeping you away from me.” My mother pouts, looking at me like I’m a villain keeping the princess locked away. I guess, in a way, I am.

“He just can’t stand to be away from me, is all.” She gives my mother a wink, and I’ve never been so thankful for a lie, even one that fills me with regret and pain. Indeed, I can’t stand to be away from her, but it’s not in the way she’s implying.

“I’m sure with you newlyweds, it’s hard to get out of that honeymoon phase.”She is so wrong. We haven’t even made it there yet.My mother gives her one more squeeze before she steps back from Tara to give Rush and Reilly hugs too. She showers them with love and adoration before looking back at me. “So, you want to talk about whatever was so urgent you needed me here immediately?”

“We should sit down.” I motion to the chair beside the head of the table that the guys left open.

“Oh, it’s one of those talks.” She wiggles her eyebrows playfully, not taking this seriously. “Tara, are you…is this one of those talks? Am I going to be a gr—”

“Uh, no. No, absolutely not,” Tara rushes out as she sits beside my mom. Her cheeks turn a bright shade of red unlike I’ve ever seen before. She never gets uncomfortable, but apparently, this specific topic is a soft spot for her.

“Cohutta? Is this about you? Are you finally seeing someone seriously? Or is it you, Rush?” My mom is just being snoopy now. She is trying to pry information out of us like it’s her day job.And people wonder where I get my impatience and inability to just sit and listen from.

“Am…am I seeing Rush?” Reilly coughs loudly, looking down at his hands. He’s almost more embarrassed than Tara just was.

“No, what I meant is, is Rush seeing someone? Wait, are you two seeing each other? I wouldn’t judge if you were! You sweet boys deserve someone good.” She does a double-take, eyes darting between both of them.

“Uh…” Rush and Reilly both say at the same time.

“Mom, we need to talk about Dad.” I decide to show them some mercy and cut to the chase before this gets even more awkward than it already is.

“Your father?” She turns her attention toward me, looking at me quizzically.

“We found some things, and I need you to explain them to me.” I sit down at the table and grab the envelope from Rush. “Seems Dad was up to something.” I slide the papers over to her and let her look at them. Her brows pinch together as she reads them, but she instantly loses color in her cheeks. The way she fidgets in her seat is a significant indication that she knows exactly what this is.

“What is this?” I ask tentatively. My mom is a flight risk when talking about certain things, so I have to ease her into it.

“I don’t know what this is.” She pushes the papers back and sits up straighter in her chair.

“Mom…”

She clears her throat, looking everywhere but into my eyes. “I don’t know what this is. Sorry I can’t be helpful.” She scoots back in her chair like she’s ready to leave. See, flight risk. She’s a runner.

“Where are you going?” I stand up next to her.

“I forgot I’m supposed to meet with Susan. I can’t just stand her up. If I do, she and all the ladies will think I’m flakey,” she rushes out as she stands from her seat. Sweat is starting to coat her brow, and she looks incredibly flushed.

“Mom, sit down, please.” I pull her chair back out and gesture towards it. I don’t want to get pushy with her because she’s my mom, but we need answers.

“Nix…I can’t talk about it. I promised I’d never talk about it.” I can almost hear her heart beating out of her chest with how nervous she is.

“Reilly doesn’t know anything about the accounts. So tell us why my dad would use Reilly’s name. Were our fathers working with the Draaks? Were they covering it up?” I get right to the point.

“What? Why would they be working with the Draaks? Your father worked with the Snakes, and Cohutta’s dad was a Snake through and through. Eagan never would’ve crossed the Snakes.” She huffs out like it’s the most ridiculous question. Interesting that she didn’t say my dad wouldn’t cross the Snakes, just that Cohutta’s dad, Eagan, wouldn’t cross them.

“They could’ve been working behind their backs. Reilly’s dad could’ve been a mole to get even more intel and give it to Dad so he could report it back to the Draaks. It’s not outlandish to think that.” I try to let her see it from my perspective.

“My father wasn’t a mole,” Reilly cuts in, angry that I even thought that.

“We need to think about every possibility,” I point out.

“How do we know your father wasn’t a mole and my dad found out, so he tried to buy him off?” Reilly pushes back.

“Well, if that’s the case, it clearly worked considering the size of that bank account,” I argue.

“Alright, you two, let’s get back on track here.” Rush tries to redirect this conversation back to the point. “Rose?”

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