Page 59 of Fire

“Well, we’ve barely heard from you in a week. How am I supposed to know?” I can hear the hurt in her voice, and now I feel guilty.

“I know, and I’m sorry. It’s just been so busy and?—”

The toilet flushes, and I freeze. What are the chances they didn’t hear that?

Zero to none is my guess.

Violet’s eyes go wide, but she quickly tries to regain her composure to save me the embarrassment of explaining exactly who is in my bathroom.

Did I mention that I love her?

My mother, however, doesn’t give two shits about embarrassing her children, especially when it comes to our dating lives, and she goes right for the kill. “Sleeping in, huh?” A wry grin spreads across her face.

“Um, yep.” I scoot down in the covers like I’m six years old again and hiding from the monster in my closet. I don’t know why I feel embarrassed. Hendrix and I didn’t even do anything.

Last night, at least.

Not that I wouldn’t have been open to it. Soveryopen to it.

But, oddly enough, the night turned out to be quite PG. After our messy beignet adventure, we went in search of new shirts and then wandered around some more. We strolled through the historic neighborhoods and visited those cemeteries you always see on TV. By the time we had dinner and headed back to the hotel, it was late.

When I invited him to my room, I had every intention of stripping that man down and licking every inch of him. But he seemed to be in no rush and instead ordered us dessert and put on a movie. Before I knew it, it was morning.

It ended up being the best date of my life. And nothing even happened.

Of course, it didn’t look that way at all.

Not that my mom is the judgy type. Despite her strict upbringing, Maya Garis Valentine is definitely one of the cool moms. While she taught us how to make chocolate chip cookiesandbaklava, she also educated us about women’s rights and the power of no. She demonstrates that you can cherish the past while embracing the future.

“Alone?” she presses.

My sister rolls her eyes. “Clearly, she didn’t, Mom. So can you stop tormenting her?”

I really love my sister.

My mom lets out a reluctant sigh. “Fine.”

“Good.” Vi nods. “Now, bring him out. It’s time for inspection.”

Correction. I loved my sister, as in past tense. As in no longer. She’s dead to me.

“What?” I sit up, the blankets slipping to my waist. Unlike Hendrix, I changed into a pair of leggings and a hoodie when we got back.

My sister frowns. “I hope that’s not what you wear to bed at night.”

“I agree.” My mom gives a firm nod. “Men don’t like all that fabric. Gets in the way.” I gag. Thoughts of my parents in bed with very little fabric flood my brain. “Besides, it’s too hot. You’ll wake up sweaty.”

“Aren’t you the one who taught us never to change ourselves for a man?” I ask, realizing just how epically I had failed that particular lesson during my marriage to Tanner.

“I did. A man or woman…” She tosses that in for my sister’s benefit. Always an ally, my mom. “Should loveyou. Not the person they want or think you should be. That isn’t love. It’s just manipulation in pretty packaging.”

A door creaks, and I turn.

“Is that him?” Vi asks.

“Where?” my mom echoes. “I can’t see! Flip the camera! Unless he’s naked. Is he naked?”

A hesitant Hendrix pokes his head out, and our eyes meet.Sorry, he mouths with a tiny smirk. My shoulders are already shaking in silent laughter.