cuts him off.
“You don’t have a right to shut me up,” she seethes. “You didn’t tell me about Liam’s accident. And if I’m to guess, that faulty car was your fault for not checking the safety of the vehicles they use!”
“Now you’re just being plain ridiculous, accidents happen,” Dad seethes. “But that doesn’t mean you can come in here and—”
“See, this is my house!” Mom steps closer to him. “My Grandfather bought me this land. Every square inch of this property is mine, not yours. So, you and your skank don’t have the right to throw me out like I’m yesterday’s garbage.”
“Well, the way you act and speak, it’s like you’re yesterday’s—,”
“Stop!”
At the sound of my voice, they all stop and turn to look at me. I’m so angry I can hardly breathe. I glance at Liam, the one who I’ve worked for years trying to shield from their shouting matches, heated arguments and insults. And now, they’re doing it right in front of him.
“Oh, my goodness, babies, I’m so sorry,” Mom starts with a gasp, then grabs her diamond necklace, her face looking forlorn. “I didn’t mean to shout. It’s just your father makes me so mad. Sorry.”
Liam scoffs beside me. “No, you’re not.”
His voice is so flat and dead, like the life that was in him is gone. He has a dead look on his face that makes my blood run cold when he glances at me.
“I know you’re trying to protect me from them, but I’ve known since I was nine how much they fight.”
Fuck.
It feels like a punch to the gut when he says that. I should have realized that Liam would find out eventually just how toxic our parents were, he’s too smart not to notice.
“Liam,” Mom starts, that bravado I saw in her eyes before now gone. “Baby, I…”
“Why are you here Mom?” He curls his lip at her. “You were bitching and moaning about Palos the moment you got here and couldn’t wait to get out, so, why are you still here?”
There’s a moment of silence, then, “With all due respect, Courtney,” Nicky steps in, a fake serene smile on her face. I see where Mia gets it from.
“No one’s talking to you, sweetie,” Mom drawls, her game face back on.
“Hmm, yeah, everything to do with my fiancé is my business, Courtney, so your point is moot,” Nicky counters.
“Moot, huh?” Mom scoffs. “You’d know a lot about moot points and invalid facts and lies, wouldn’t you Nicky Hazel?”
Her voice is calm. Too calm. Liam glances at me but I can’t look away from my mother. Mom takes a step toward Nicky, then she turns around in a circle, arms stretched wide.
“This must be a nice life after the rough one you’ve had,” she starts, a cutting smile on her face. “I built this house, but I see you’re already decorating, changing shit like you’ll last long.”
“Courtney!” John chides, a thunderous look on his face.
“Come on, John,” Mom tsks. “We both know that a marriage built on lies won’t last.”
Where the hell is Mia? My heart’s beating so hard against my chest and all I want to know is where the hell she is because whatever’s about to happen here, it’s going to hurt her.
“I lived a comfortable life, thank you very much,” Nicky defends. “Not that it’s any of your bitter business but I’ve never lied to John.”
“Oh yeah, that’s right. You met in your whoring, gold-digging, condom interchangeable circles, didn’t you?” Mom shrugs. “Well that means he knows everything about you.”
“Courtney, please,” Dad starts. “Are you bitter that I didn’t tell you I’ve moved on from you? That I’ve found a woman I love to marry after our failed attempt at it?”
Mom laughs but it’s scratchy and so damn cringeworthy. “I’m not bitter.”
“Yes, you are,” Liam chimes, in then walks over to the couch and drops down with a huge smile on his face. “You almost had a heart attack when we told you.”
“Liam,” Mom chides.
“Oops, sorry.” He shrugs. “Continue with this highly entertaining Telemundo soap without the opera.”
“Well, I have to admit, I was offended when you didn’t tell me about her, but then I was fine with it.”
“Really?” I start and all eyes shift to me.
“Yes, Julian.” She shrugs. “I realized that I wanted to be on the right side of progress and I wanted to make sure your father would be happy and that you’d both be safe here with…her.”
“I have a name.” Nicky seethes.
“Child, I don’t give a