Read Online Entice (The Fighter Romance Series - Book #2) by Alycia Taylor - Free Book Online Page B

went on
home.
    My mom was sitting on my couch watching television
when I got home. She had fixed herself all up and looked like she was ready for
a night on the town. When I was little and I’d asked her once why she looked so
pretty to just stay at home, she told me, “What if there’s a fire, honey?
Firemen are very handsome. I wouldn’t want them seeing me looking like a mess.”
    “Hey, Mom.”
    “Hi, Jessie. How was work?”
    “It was okay. Did you find something for lunch?”
    “I did. I ate what looked to be your leftovers from
last night. Good chicken, amazing peanut sauce. You didn’t make all that just for
yourself, did you?”
    My mother, the detective. I chose not to answer her and instead I asked, “Do you have enough room for
your things in the dresser and closet in there?”
    “Yes, baby. You don’t have to worry about me, I’ll
be fine. Oh, I put your laundry in the dryer. Fancy dinner and she washed her
sheets.”
    “Mom, don’t start.”
    She put her bottom lip out and said, “I don’t know
why you won’t talk to me.”
    “About what, Mom? There’s nothing to talk about.”
    “I’m a woman too. I know the signs of a man being around.
Why not just tell me about him. Why are you hiding him?”
    “I’m not hiding anyone, Mom. Let it go, okay?” I
went into the kitchen, then, to look for something to eat myself. My mother
followed me and I could feel her eyes boring into the back of my head. I
finally just snapped. “Knock it off! I’m twenty-three years old! All of a
sudden you want to be a mother and I’m supposed to just know how to have that
relationship with you? I have no experience with that.”
    “What do you mean? Why are you yelling at me?”
    With a heavy sigh I said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t
have yelled at you…but you need to let it go.”
    “Wow! You won’t even consider calling Justin yet
you’re sleeping with a man you have to hide.”
    “Oh, that’s it! I’m not like you, okay! Not at all!
And in case you were wondering, that was no accident. I practiced my whole life
to make sure it didn’t happen. You were the last thing I ever wanted to be.
You’ve always been addicted to men. You think your looks entitle you to things
and you don’t have to work for them…and you’re a drug addict! So no, I have no
experience with having a good mother…the kind you want to talk to about things.
You were a horrible mother and sometimes I don’t know why I don’t just hate you
for it!”
    I was so passionately ranting that I didn’t even
realize that my mother had tears streaming down her face. It wasn’t that it
meant much. She was a drama queen and an addict; she could turn them off and on
at the drop of a hat.
    She didn’t say a word. Instead she turned and walked
out. I followed her, suddenly feeling terrible for saying such horrible things
to her…even if they were true. “Mom,” I called after her. She ignored me and
went into the bathroom. Just as I stepped up behind her the door closed in my
face and I heard it lock.
    “Oh geez, Mom…really? This is really not very mature of you. If you’re angry with me just come out
and tell me so.” There was no sound coming out of the bathroom. I reached out
and tried the handle but I had been right, it was locked. “Come on, Mom. You’re
being ridiculous. I’m sorry that I hurt your feelings, okay?”
    “ Hmph !”
    I rolled my eyes. She couldn’t see me. “Mother, this
is ridiculous. You’re acting like a child!”
    “I guess I have a history of it,” she said. “Maybe
that’s what makes me such a horrible mother! I haven’t taken a single pill in
months and since you never come around, you would have no idea how hard that is
for me! I just lost the only person in the world other than you that I thought
cared about me and now you tell me what a bad mother I’ve been…”
    God, she was a master at the guilt thing. I felt a
pang beginning in my chest and I knew she had won. It was the reason I