“They think togetherness plus a bit of purring can solve anything.”
“He’s been treating me like garbage for weeks now and suddenly, what? He thinks he can just move in, and I’ll go along with it because his nose tells him he can do whatever he wants to? How is that okay?”
“Baby girl, this is exactly where you wanted to be. You’ve been waiting for this since before your first training bra. This is Jase. You’re hurting him right now and I’m not saying I don’t understand but–”
“Does it make sense to you that I feel this way because he’s hurt me? He hurt me a lot, Mom. He’s made me feel awful one too many times.”
Jase is in the doorway now, looking at me, looking like what I imagine an addict searching for a way to get his fix might look.And it’s not a good look. It’s scary. The only solace is that he can’t do anything about it. Yet.
“I’m not leaving, Bay. I’ll stay here the three days if I have to. And then I’m taking you home. I’ve made it a few days already, at least I know you’re safe, and I can breathe easier because I’m able to keep you that way. I’m so sorry I hurt you. I really am. Please let me explain.”
Mom is smiling like he’s a saint.
How irritating.
“I don’t want to hear anything you’ve got to say, Jason.”
His expression goes sad. And I refuse to let it ding my armor.
Mom pipes up. “What do you feel like for dinner, Jase?”
“You are not making him dinner!” I protest.
“Anything is fine, thanks, Carrie.”
“You love my mini bacon cheeseburger meatloaves and twice-baked potatoes, don’t you, Jase? Honey glazed carrots?”
“I sure do,” he says.
“Mother!”
She looks at me.
“You are not making him his favorite meal!”
“He has to eat,” Mom defends at the same time as I hear Dad’s voice.
“He needs to be near you, Bailey.”
“I’ll make up the spare room,” Mom offers.
“It’s all right; I’ll sleep on the floor beside Bailey,” Jase asserts.
“Absolutely not,” I tell him.
“Oh, here’s the trundle bed, Jase,” Mom offers and walks over, pulling on the drawer under my bed to show him.
“Mom!” I protest at the same time as Jase says, “That’ll do just great, Carrie. Thank you.”
“No!” I shout.
Dad steps into view and shoots me a disapproving look. “Jase is your fated mate, Bailey. It’s important he’s close to you. Either you go to his house, or he stays here to see you’re okay. He needs this.”
“What about what I need?” I ask, then whisper, “You guys aren’t on my side.”
He gets the red carpet rolled out and I’m treated like I’m being unreasonable. How is this real?
Dad says, “You’re angry, so it’s making you emotional. He’s been forced to hold back on his natural instincts, so it hit his emotions. You two are like oil and water right now, but it’ll all blend once he…” Dad swallows and then mutters, “claims you.” He makes a face like those words taste awful and since I’m his daughter, I guess they would. He clears his throat, then finishes with, “Bottom line, you two need to work it out, which means you two need to be close to one another.”