Why now? Nana hadn’t warned her about an extended visit. Too bad her nana couldn’t have come as well. At least things might not seem so awkward. Jade had nothing in common with her mother and to spend an entire day with her would be rather uncomfortable.
“You came by yourself and plan on staying, but you didn’t think to call to give me a heads-up?”
“Honey, I’m your mother. I figured I was always welcome here.”
Jade sighed and crossed her arms. “You are, Mom.”
As much as they rubbed each other the wrong way, as much as Jade just didn’t connect with the woman, she was still her mother, and there was a reason she was here extending the olive branch. Jade just couldn’t figure out why after all these years.
“Mom—”
The back door opened and closed. Jade stilled. Had Cash left? He wasn’t even trying to be quiet.
“Oh my word!”
Livie’s high-pitched squeal from the kitchen had Jade cringing and closing her eyes, wishing she could go back to when Cash told her to ignore the doorbell. Why hadn’t she listened? They could’ve snuck back upstairs and kept the rest of the world shut out just like they’d been doing.
But Jade knew all this had to come to an end at some point. She just hadn’t planned on this scenario.
“Cash! What are you . . . Where are your clothes?”
Livie’s shocked tone carried through to the living room.
“I know you heard all that,” her mother scoffed. “If you had company, you should’ve told me.”
Cash came down the hall, with Livie right on his trail. Of course he was still in his underwear, though he didn’t seem to be the slightest bit embarrassed. Whereas Jade wished the floor would swallow her whole.
“What is Cash doing hiding in the kitchen in his underwear?” Livie demanded, her eyes on Jade. “And does that have anything to do with the broken-chair pieces I saw by the trash can?”
Livie’s gaze darted to Jade’s mother. “Oh, Mrs. McKenzie. I didn’t see you. Um . . . Jade? What’s going on?”
“You’ve still got the same boyfriend?” Lana asked, completely dismissing Livie. “It’s a good thing I came, then. We’re going to have to talk, Jade.”
“Boy . . . boyfriend?” Livie sputtered.
Jade stared at Cash, and he simply raised his brows as if giving her a silent go ahead to handle this however she wanted.
Turning her attention to her friend, Jade attempted to find the right words. “It’s not what it looks like,” she started, instantly realizing from Cash’s wince that she’d chosen wrong.
“It looks like you’re both half naked, there’s breakfast for two in the kitchen, though it’s lunch time, and a broken chair from my kitchen table is outside in shambles. It looks like you two had a wild night and are just now emerging.”
“Exactly why they shouldn’t be dating,” Lana chimed in, likely happy to have someone on her team for once. “This is not a healthy relationship.”
“Mother, not now,” Jade growled. “Cash and I are just . . . we’re . . .”
“I can see what you’re doing,” Livie stated as she crossed her arms and pinned Jade with an emotional stare.
The hurt in her friend’s eyes had Jade mentally scolding herself. Livie likely didn’t care what Jade and Cash had going on; what she did care about were the multiple lies between them.
“I wasn’t aware Cash was your boyfriend,” Livie added. There was no mistaking the accusation and the pain dripping off each word.
Jade shook her head. “He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Thank heavens you came to your senses.” Lana reached for Jade’s arm and patted. “Why don’t you go upstairs and get ready and we can go out? We can discuss this unfortunate moment later.”
Unfortunate moment? With the angst circling the room and threatening to choke her, Jade knew there was a more apt description for what was going on and it sure as hell was stronger than “unfortunate.”
Jade risked a glance at Cash. His jaw was set, his eyes emotionless. He stared at her for only a second, then turned and strode back down the hall. His heavy footsteps echoed up the back steps, and the creaky boards overhead gave away his every movement back into her bedroom.