“All you ever have to say is negative stuff. What do you expect from me?”
“A little understanding would be nice.”
“Understanding?” I glared at him. “What would you like me to understand? That you hate my mother?”
“Kinley, I do not hate your mom.”
“You could have fooled me. You know you’re going to feel really bad when you realize you’re wrong and she didn’t relapse. And after you do, I expect a fucking apology.” I turned to leave, but he grabbed my hand and stopped me.
“Babe, don’t do this.”
“Too late. You have no right to throw accusations around like that, Christian.”
“You’re right.” He nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“No! Now you’re just saying that to save your ass. You’re not being sincere with me.”
“I think you forget I know you better than you know yourself. You think I don’t realize you’re out here by yourself thinking exactly what I am when it comes to her?”
“I am not!”
“Then why ask me if I thought she seemed off?”
“Because I thought maybe she was coming down with something and you saw it too! Like she was getting sick. She’s been working a lot. I’m sure she’s just exhausted.”
“Baby…” He pulled me into his arms. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m way off base, okay? She’ll be here soon, and you can ask her yourself why she’s late.”
I didn’t say anything. Instead, I simply hugged him back. I hated arguing with him. Today was supposed to be a day of celebration, not fighting with each other.
“Ugh! I’m sorry, Christian. I didn’t mean to go off on you.”
“Yes, you did, but I forgive you.”
I laughed, I couldn’t help it.
“Kinley!” his mom shouted from the slider. “Can you come in here for a few minutes? I want to introduce you to some family from out of state!”
“Of course!” I yelled back before looking at Christian. “You coming?”
He grinned. “I wish I was.”
I smacked his chest.
“I’ll meet you inside.”
“You’re never going to find me with all those people.”
He kissed me. “I’d find you anywhere, sweetness.”
“Charmer.” I gave him one last kiss before making my way inside.
Silently praying to God, he was wrong about my mom.
—Christian—
There were way too many people huddled together to walk in through the kitchen, so I decided to walk around the house and go in from the front door.
All of a sudden, I heard Kinley’s mom holler, “Chrissstiannn!”
My gaze shifted toward the direction of her voice as she stumbled out of her driver-side door. She’d parked her car in the middle of the road in front of our home.
“Fuck,” I bit to myself. Moving quickly, I made my way over to her where she practically fell into my arms.
I knew it.
I fucking knew it.
This wasn’t the first time either. Her mother had been acting weird for weeks. She went from being up Kinley’s ass to barely seeing her. It didn’t take a genius to put two and two together. Kinley was too emotionally blind to see it. She would if she let herself though. It wasn’t hard to miss.
“Miss McKenzie—”
“Hooow many timesss do I have to tells you to call meeeee Linda?” she slurred, hanging onto my shoulder.
“We need to get you an Uber home before Kinley sees you.”
“Whaaat?” She jolted back, almost falling over her own two feet. “I’m heeere for my baby’s—”
“You’re drunk,” I cut her off.
“I jussst had a little bits! You know, to celebrate!”
I shook my head, fearing the worst. Not for her…
For Kinley.
If she saw her mom like this, it would destroy her. There were hundreds of people inside, and this couldn’t have been worse timing.
“You shouldn’t have driven.”
“Christiannnn, I’m fine.”
“You’re far from fine, Miss McKenzie.”
“Where’sss my baby’s? Where’s my Kinley Care Bearsss?”
Trying to hold her upright while grabbing my phone out of the pocket of my slacks was a challenge, but I couldn’t let Kinley see her mom like this. It’d break her heart, and I refused to cause her that kind of pain, today of all days. She hadn’t seen her mom in this condition in years, and all I wanted to do was strangle her fucking mother in my arms for putting Kinley through this yet again.
But I was too late.
I couldn’t protect her fast enough.
“Mom,” Kinley coaxed, suddenly standing in front of us. Her eyes locked on the woman who was a drunken mess in my tight hold.
I’d never seen the expression on my girl’s face like it was in that second, killing me slowly in the process.
“Baby’s! Congratulationsssss! I’m soooooo proud of youuuu!”
“Oh my God,” she rasped with wide eyes.
It was as if she was reliving her worst nightmare. Her face paled, and I could already see tears forming in her stare.
“Babe, go back inside,” I pleaded, hoping she’d listen to me. “I’ll take care of your mom.”
Unable to resist, Kinley questioned, “Mom, when did you relapse?”
“I didnnn’t relapsssse. I just had a sipssss.”