Page 123 of Deceptive Games

“His future wife shouldn’t have to see him like this!” she hissed, Rory’s eyes widening as she stared at me.

“Mom, enough. Whatever little plan you’ve concocted, I’m not going to play along with it,” I muttered, her eyes sliding to mine.

“You will do as you’re told, young man,” she spat, motioning to Jensen. “Your little rebellious fling with him is over. It’s time you grew up and became the man you were supposed to be.”

My ears started ringing and my heartbeat picked up speed as anxiety clawed at my insides.

“Rebellious fling?” Josie echoed, taking a step towards my mother. “You will not talk down to him like that. If he wants to be with Jensen, then let him. What are you so worried about? That people will talk? I didn’t know words could scare you so badly, Karen.”

“You stay out of this. He’s not your son.”

“He’s an adult and can make his own decisions. You coming down here to throw demands around and embarrass him are exactly the reasons why you have a wedge between you both.He’s a fantastic kid, so stop acting like there’s something wrong with him.”

My throat went tight the more they argued, and I wanted to throw up when Mom turned to Jensen.

“You stay the hell away from him! You’re destroying his chance of a good life! You can’t give him what he needs!”

“What’s that?” Jensen asked in a bored tone, sneering at her. “A home? A family? We’re already that for him. Who do you think he turns to when he needs someone? Me. Is that what pisses you off? That your son runs to me instead of you? Maybe if you treated him right, that wouldn’t happen.”

“He deserves a big wedding! A beautiful bride in a big white dress, and a large family so he can leave behind a legacy! You will bring nothing but shame to him!” she screeched, nausea swimming inside my stomach.

I hated it when it got like this, but it was always worse when there were witnesses.

At least when it was at home when we were alone, I could suffer without the embarrassment.

“Baby? Look at me.” Rory was in front of me, taking my face in her hands and forcing my eyes to hers. “Just breathe for me.”

“Don’t worry about him, he does that for attention sometimes,” Mom scoffed, but I could sense her interest shift when Rory kept touching my face and I let her.

She had no idea that it was Rory, and if I wasn’t freaking out already, it would’ve been amusing.

“I’ve got you,” Rory murmured, and I slid my arms around her to pull her close, her touch grounding me as some of the panic subsided. The ringing in my ears faded slightly as her hand slipped up the back of my shirt to draw patterns on my bare skin, and I sagged slightly as I got my breathing under control.

I’d been so close to a full-on panic attack.

“Lukas? Aren’t you going to introduce me?” Mom asked, oblivious to the chaos in my head. All she saw was that I was interested in a girl, and if she went to school here, she assumed she was well-connected or rich.

“You’ve already met,” I managed to get out as Rory turned to glare at her, Mom’s eyes narrowing. “You remember Rory, right?”

“I wasn’t aware you two were friends again,” Mom said tensely, and I pushed it as I bent down to kiss Rory’s forehead, tucking her against my side.

“Thanks, baby. I’m okay.”

Mom’s nostrils flared like a bull’s, fury in her eyes. “I forbid this. Tell me you’re not sleeping with her.”

“Mom—”

“Oh my God, you’ve been sleeping with her!” she exploded, and I didn’t miss the way the headmaster started ushering the other students out. “I’m taking you to the doctor’s office right now. You need to get tested. Did you use protection? Jesus, Lukas! Can’t you see this filthy little bitch is just trying to sink her claws into you for the money? She’s been fucking her way around Hawthorne Heights for years, who knows what you’ve caught.”

“Lovely to see you as always, Karen,” Rory deadpanned, but Josie got in Mom’s face and jabbed a finger against her chest.

“You will respect her.”

“What if it was your son she was sinking her claws into?” Mom demanded, and I was starting to think Josie was going to punch her.

“I would be thrilled to have a daughter-in-law like Rory. Shame on you. What kind of grown woman tears down an eighteen-year-old girl like that?”

“I will not have that rotten girl near Lukas! You don’t know her like I do!”