Layover (Open Skies #1) - Becca Jameson Page 0,46

phone number. I could get more information from my mom, but not without explaining why. Besides, you can’t confront him, Jason.”

“Why the fuck not? The guy is stalking you.”

“He’s right,” Christa added. Thank God someone besides Jason saw the seriousness of this situation.

Libby rubbed her forehead. “If you confront him, he’ll figure out I’m involved with you and tell my parents.”

Jason groaned as he rolled his head back. “Libby, this is crazy. Someone has to tell this guy to fuck off and make sure he hears it loud and clear this time. He’s not going to stop this nonsense. It’s not safe. He’s unbalanced.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” Christa added. “He’s a lunatic.”

Jason nodded. He hadn’t wanted to put it so bluntly and risk angering Libby more. “How about if you go talk to your mom while I go talk to Eddie? Let’s put an end to this.”

Libby chewed on her bottom lip and then shook her head. “Please. Let me handle it.”

He stared at her. His brain was screaming at him to get out of this relationship right now. It was moving into territory he couldn’t stomach. Not after Veronica. Never again would he be someone’s secret side piece.

It took every ounce of strength not to blow up and say things he would never be able to take back. Instead, he drew in a breath and uttered, “Fine.” He turned around and walked toward the door.

“Jason.” Libby rushed to catch up with him.

He opened the door and turned to glance at her. “It’s fine. Do whatever you want. I need to get to work.” He stepped outside, shut the door, and jogged to his SUV.

It wasn’t until he’d pulled away from her townhouse and out of sight that he stopped along the side of the road, put the SUV in park, and slammed his hands against the steering wheel. “Fuck.”

He couldn’t wrap his head around this situation. His head told him to run fast and far. Get away from Libby before she hurt him. She wasn’t worth it.

His heart told him she was fucking perfect for him and he needed to calm the fuck down and let her handle this mess in her time. He reminded himself they had only been dating for eleven days. He was putting expectations on her that weren’t warranted.

So what if her mother was a bigot? He couldn’t expect Libby to tell her parents to go fuck themselves after eleven days with a man, even if the sex was off the charts.

Jason needed to shake this off, pull himself together. She said she would handle it. He had to trust that she would. She’d made it clear from their first date that she didn’t like people doing things for her. He had to assume this fell under that category. She wanted to fight her own battles. She was a grown woman. She could find a way to make sure Eddie stopped sending gifts. And, please God, please tell me she will eventually put me first and tell her mom to jump in a lake.

Chapter 19

Libby was stomping furiously when she arrived at her parents’ house two hours later. She was mad at them, at Eddie, at Jason, and at herself. She couldn’t figure out why Jason was so insistent about her confronting her mom.

Obviously, she would eventually have to face her parents about Jason if things got more serious, but until then, it was not on her shortlist of things to do. That didn’t mean she didn’t have words for her mom.

She entered the house and went straight for the kitchen where she knew her mother would be prepping for dinner or some shit. The woman loved to cook and was often found in the kitchen, sometimes all day.

Libby knew her father would be at work, but he wasn’t the pushy one making her life miserable.

Maria lifted her gaze when she heard Libby enter and smiled. “What a pleasant surprise.” She wiped her hands on her apron. “Have you had breakfast? I can put some burritos together for you.”

“I’ve eaten, Mamá. I came to talk to you.”

“Okay. Let’s sit.” She pointed at the table and pulled out a chair.

Libby didn’t feel like sitting, but she reluctantly followed, trying to tamp down her aggravation. She decided to dive right in. “Mamá, you have to stop meddling in my life. Why would you invite Eddie to come for dinner without checking with me first?”

Her eyes went wide. “I thought you liked Eddie. I went to a lot