Damaged Love - Jaxson Kidman Page 0,65

three looked at me and then left the room.

When the door shut, I felt like I could breathe for the first time since arriving.

I had the place to myself.

There were crackers, cheese, and grapes on the platter.

Along with a plate of chicken tenders and fries.

That made me laugh.

They had hearts.

Which was maybe the most shocking part of it all.

They had hearts.

But it didn’t take away the wrong that they did.

I still had to-

There was another knock at the door.

I frowned and moved to the door.

“Who is it?” I asked.

“Hair and makeup,” a woman’s voice said.

I opened the door a few inches. “Who are you?”

“Hair and makeup, Winter,” she said. “Mind if I help?”

“Uh…”

“Xavier sent me up here,” she said.

I studied the woman.

She was not my age. Nowhere near it.

I opened the door a little more and she slipped right into the room.

She looked around and sighed. “I love this room.”

“I’m… who are you?” I asked.

The woman looked at me and smiled.

“I’m Deb… Xavier’s mother.”

My heart still raced even as Deb worked on doing my hair.

She talked so much and so often, I had no chance to get a word in.

All I could do was study her reflection in the bathroom mirror as she worked.

As bad as it sounded, she and Xavier looked nothing alike. Which was the whole point since she wasn’t Xavier’s mother.

I told myself maybe this was a test. Or a trap.

I needed to keep all my lies and secrets in line.

Deb stopped for a second and looked at me in the mirror.

“I’m talking your ear off,” she said. “Sorry. I’ve always wanted a daughter.”

My heart sank a little.

I kept a straight face.

“I’m sure raising Xavier was a pain in the neck,” I said.

She laughed. “That’s right. Oh, I could tell you stories, Winter.”

“I wish we had more time for that.”

“Me too.” She touched my shoulders. “Hey. Between you and me, I don’t want to be here. The mask party is weird. And this ball thing is just plain dumb.”

“Then why are you here?” I asked.

“Well, I can’t let Forest have all the fun,” she said. “He’s Xavier’s father. My ex.” She stuck out her tongue. “But at least I have Rich with me. That makes things awkward. My ex and my new man. Talk about drama.”

I let out a quick laugh.

Deb liked drama?

Well then, no wonder she was okay with the truth about Xavier.

“Now, I have to ask this because all I’ve heard from Xavier was Winter this and Winter that… the accident… you don’t have your memory?”

Deb squeezed my shoulders a little tighter.

“No,” I said. “No memory. I mean, some memory. Bits and pieces of my life. It’s so weird. Like I’ll randomly remember something from when I was a kid. Yet I can’t remember the accident or people I’m supposed to know.”

“My goodness,” Deb said. “That’s terrible. I’m so sorry you’re going through that.”

“Thanks,” I said. “It’s just…”

“Well, let me get you finished up here,” Deb said, overpowering me with her strong voice.

She went back to talking about herself, her life, the ball, and a bunch of other things I really didn’t care to hear about.

I had to give her credit though. While the rambling about nonsense was annoying, she saved me a lot of time and annoyance by taking care of my hair. She had it pulled back and twisted a little. It was down, but out of the way.

As far as makeup went, I declined.

I wasn’t going to have myself painted up like a birthday clown.

“Does this thing go all night?” I asked Deb.

“As late as you want it to,” she said as she started to move toward the door.

“Can you zip up my dress?” I asked.

“Of course I can,” she said. “You know, Xavier is looking forward to this with you.”

I paused mid-walk. “Oh?”

“He’ll get mad at me for saying anything, but what mother doesn’t want to embarrass their kid, right? I think he likes you. A lot. It’s non-stop talking. That’s why I offered to help. I had to see you. Privately. I know when we all get down there, it’s different. We all act and talk differently. Anyway, I just wanted to meet you. And for the record, you are freaking gorgeous, Winter. And… if Xavier ever does anything to piss you off or hurt you, you better come find me. Got it?”

I laughed. “Got it.”

I walked to get my dress.

My cheeks were flush.

Piss me off? Hurt me? How about him trying to kill me? Does that count?

I took the