Page 68 of Between Secrets and Obsession

When Lennon and Sophie clean up, Maddie joins her parents in the living room, and I make the announcement that Victoria and I are leaving. She keeps yawning and is exhausted from the jam-packed weekend with her family.

“You’ll be at the house?” Mason asks, walking us to the door.

“Yeah, we’re gonna take a nap,” I tell him.

Mason lifts an eyebrow as I unlock the SUV for Victoria. She gives Mason a smile and walks away.

“You okay?” he asks, and I get paranoid that he can see right through me. He knows me better than anyone else.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired.”

Mason searches my face, then nods. “Okay then. See ya later.”

I climb inside the Mercedes.

“Your friends are nice,” Victoria says as I back out of the driveway. “I actually really like them.”

“Good,” I say dryly, not in the mood for conversation. The stress of the last hour has given me a headache, and I want today to be over. Hell, I want the next six months to be over.

Victoria pulls down the vanity mirror and grabs some lipstick out of her purse and reapplies it before fixing her hair. For the most part, when we’re alone, we barely talk because we don’t have anything in common. I’ve never been able to afford her jet-setting lifestyle. The only time I travel is to find criminals, and it’s hardly ever pleasurable. A hard day for her is having a massage appointment canceled at the last minute or when the upscale bar she frequents runs out of her favorite liquor. Victoria’s a spoiled brat who’s used to getting her way, and it’s all she’s ever known. Her daddy has made sure of it.

I pull in behind my truck and turn off the engine. Victoria looks at the house, then back at me. “This is where you live?”

I nod, noticing the disgusted expression on her face.

“We’re gonna need to buy a house for when I visit,” she whines.

Oh hell no.That’s where I draw the line.

“I’m not moving,” I snap. “I appreciate everything you’ve done so far, but that’s just too much.”

She grins, then opens the door. “We’ll see.”

I pound my fist against the steering wheel, temporarily losing control. Getting out of the vehicle, I hurry and grab our bags, then unlock the front door. We walk in, and she looks around, judging everything about the place I call home. The décor, the carpet, the furniture. I can see the disdain on her face.

“It’s gonna be a long four nights, isn’t it?” She’s not amused, though what did she really expect? I don’t live at the fucking Four Seasons.

I don’t give her the attention she’s craving. “I hope this is worth it to you.”

“Oh, it will be, baby. More than worth it. I’d sleep in a Motel 8 for a week if it was necessary to convince my dad. Not that this place is much better, but it’ll do. Show me to our bedroom.”

I climb the stairs with her heavy ass suitcase in tow, and she follows me. Opening the door, I lead her inside. “And the bathroom?”

“At the end of the hallway.” She walks past me and makes her way there, and I follow her. “At least the shower is big.”

I suck in a deep breath and know this is her version of slumming it. Hell, if I lived her lifestyle, I’d think the same thing too, but this is home for me. I’ve made enough memories under this roof to last a lifetime, so I’m slightly offended.

Victoria leads the way back, then lays her luggage on the bed and starts unpacking her expensive wardrobe and makeup. After I clear space on my dresser for her items, she moves theclothes around in my closet for hers. Once she’s put everything away, she announces she’s going to take a shower.

I take a few minutes and text Tyler.

Liam

So I brought Victoria home to meet everyone this weekend. I fucking hate myself right now.

Tyler

I guess things didn’t go over well with one particular person?