I shake my head as we part from our hug. “Mother, I’m an adult,” I tease.
“You will be eighty and still be my Lily bug,” she scolds and I laugh, agreeing easily. “I’m so glad you’re home. Did you see Ethan?”
“Yeah, before he was kidnapped by some perv with a mustache,” I grumble.
She furrows her brow before softening and giving me an unamused look. “I assume you mean Parker.”
I slap my hands over my ears. “Ew, don’t say that word around me.”
“Oh, my daughter, how I’ve missed you so much.”
“So, you know why my ex has a weird friendship with my little brother? Is he stalking me?”
“I’m pretty sure if he was stalking you, he would take a more direct approach.”
I shake my head. “You don’t know, mother, he’s probably playing the long game, and I’ve fallen right into his trap. Do we know who started the fire?”
“Oh hush.” I shrug. She wraps her arm around my shoulder, holding me against her side as we walk slowly back toward the house.
“I’m just saying. Is he going to be around a lot because that might get a little awkward when Aaron gets here.”
My mom tenses but tries to hide it before responding. “When’s he getting here?”
I brush off her initial reaction. “A couple days, he has some stuff to finish up in the city before coming to help Auntie Trish.”
“She’s super thankful, even though you know she probably won’t tell you herself.”
“Sounds about right.” I nod. As soon as we’re inside, we’re greeted by Jerry Lee.
“Hey bitch! Shut up, Vern!”
“How I haven’t missed you, Jerry Lee,” I tell the psychotic bird. “How long is he staying?”
My mom chuckles. “Until the salon is finished again.”
“Great, let’s see what else I can teach you.”
“How about you don’t. Ethan has already asked us what jizz means. You wouldn’t have anything to do with that, would you?”
I gasp. “Absolutely not. Clearly there are other filthy mouths working at that place.”
“Yeah? Who taught him? Trish or Sutton?”
I twist my mouth because neither of them would be guilty of that. That’s all me.Oh well.
“Maybe it’s like his Vern comment.”
“Shut up, Vern!”
I continue, “We don’t know where that came from either.”
“Try to keep it clean around him please. I really don’t want to have your brother asking me about anything else I’m not prepared to answer.”
I scoff. “He’s twelve, he knows more than you think he does.”
“He’s my sweet innocent boy,” she defends.
“And I’m your sweet innocent girl!”