“And he said he’s okay with it. He was upset because he thought I was just another guy that was going to take you and throw you away. He was mad at you for getting involved with me behind his back because he was just trying to protect you. But once I told him that we’re together and staying that way, all his fears went away.”
“So, he’s really okay with us? Like, we can be around him and be a couple and he’s not going to freak out?”
“He’s really okay with it,” he promises.
“That’s great! Let’s go see him,” I say, standing up, but his hand doesn’t leave mine. It holds me back and he drags me over to his lap.
“There’s more.”
“Oh, okay.” I wrap my arms around his neck as I stay seated on his lap.
“He’s okay with it now since we talked. But he wasn’t okay with it before. He was pissed and he called your mom.”
“He what?”
He nods. “Your mom is on her way here. She’s expecting to have breakfast with you and Brad tomorrow morning. And then after breakfast, she’s going to try to take you back home.”
“What? No!” I stand, moving away from him.
“She thinks that you’ve just been here causing trouble for Brad. So she wants to take you home so she can keep an eye on you, help you stay out of trouble.”
“No!” I shake my head. “I’m not going back there! I’m not going anywhere with her. And I’m not leaving you.”
He stands up, holding out his palms. “I know. She can’t make you go anywhere, Deven. You’re staying here with me. And then, we’ll take the next step. We’ll start building our house or we’ll move anywhere you want to go. I’m never letting you walk away again. You hear me? I won’t let her take you.” He closes the distance between us and pulls me to his chest. “You’re mine, Deven.” His lips crash against mine and he kisses me deeply. I believe his words. I trust him.
I kiss him hard until I’m breathless. “So, what am I going to do?” I rest my head against his chest.
“We’re going to breakfast in the morning. You’re going to tell your mom that you’re not a child. You’re an adult and you’re not going anywhere. Tell her that you’re not getting into trouble, that you have a full-time job, that we’re going to get married and start a family of our own. I will be there with you. Understand?”
I nod, looking up to meet his eyes. They’re the deepest, darkest blue I’ve ever seen them. They hold nothing but truth and honesty, protection and love.
I wake to Hudson’s phone ringing at four a.m.
“Hello?” he answers in the darkness of the room. There’s a silent pause. “I’ll be right there.” He jumps out of bed and scrambles to get his clothes.
I sit up. “What’s going on?”
“There’s a huge fire in the neighboring town. They’re calling in for backup. I have to go.” He bends down and presses a quick kiss to my lips. “Love you.”
“Hudson, what about breakfast?” I ask as he grabs his phone and keys off the table and rushes for the door.
“I’ll try my best to make it, babe. Just remember, she can’t make you do anything you don’t want to, okay?”
I nod and he rushes out, leaving me alone.
I throw myself back on the bed and look up at the ceiling. I know he’s right. I’m a legal adult. She can’t force me to do anything I don’t want to do anymore. But this is my one chance to make things right with her, tell her my side of the story, and pray that she believes me. I would love to have my mother back, to treat her the way I should’ve been treating her my whole life. I won’t let her leave until she hears me out, believes me, trusts me and, maybe, even love me again.
I somehow manage to drift off to sleep, but my alarm goes off at seven and I wake up to an empty bed. Hudson still isn’t back, and worry bubbles up my throat. I never thought about how dangerous this job is. What if something happens? I shake my head. No, I can’t think like this right now. I have to believe that he’s fine, that he’ll be walking in to interrupt breakfast minutes after it starts. He’ll be there with me. I know he will.