CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
My mouth drops open as I stare at the woman standing on my porch. Dressed in a Gucci jumpsuit with a Michael Kors purse on her arm, she looks like a knock off, Hispanic Paris Hilton and not a cute one. Her once black and curly hair hangs over her shoulders, blonde and fried. Her lips are pumped full of filler and the Botox in her face makes it look expressionless.
“You said you were going to be here next week,” I shriek at my mother.
I know when the apocalypse was supposed to be here and it surely wasn’t today.
My mother tosses her hair over her shoulder and her purse knocks against me with the movement, making me grit my teeth. “I told you today.” She didn’t. She pushes past me and makes her way into the house. “My bags are in the rental I had to take, do fetch them.”
“I’m not your assistant,” I tell her, slamming the door closed.
“No, but you’re my daughter and a bad one at that, so the least you could do is grab my bags…” Her words trail off and I turn, frowning, only to realize what has caught her in surprise. “Ivy, why are there two men in your living room.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I move forward quickly, making my way down the hall. By some miracle, Emmet and Chase have put themselves back together. Their clothes are rumpled and Emmet’s hair is still a mess but otherwise, there’s no visible indication of the threesome that was just underway on my couch.
“These are my neighbors,” I say quickly, moving into the room. There’s no way in hell I’m telling her I’m dating them. She’d probably try to jump one of them just to spite me. And I sure as hell don’t feel like hearing a lecture on dating multiple men because if my mom is anything, she’s definitely a hypocrite.
“Chase Rivera, ma’am,” Chase says, stepping forward and offering her his hand and a charming smile.
She raises a brow, looking at his hand before taking it as if it has acid on it. “Maria Parker.” Her fourth surname. “Ivy’s mother, though you wouldn’t know it from the way she tries to act as if I don’t exist.”
I roll my eyes.
She looks at Emmet, taking in his ripped jeans, and the rings on his hand. She frowns. “And who are you?”
My shoulders tense, not liking the way she looks at him.
“Emmet Chee,” he says, following Chase’s lead and shaking her hand. Her response isn’t any better.
“Mhmm, and why are you both here?” She asks them but she turns and sends me a judgmental eye.
I know exactly what she’s implying and for once she isn’t wrong, but I’ll be damned if I tell her that.
“We were just helping Ivy… move her table,” Chase lies, cringing when I look at him over mom’s shoulder. He straightens his expression when she turns back to them.
She purses her lips. “Oh, so you’re the help then, great, my bags are in the car.” She tosses her key at Chase and he catches them, a confused look on his face.
‘They’re not the fucking help, mother,” I say through gritted teeth, snatching the keys back from Chase and throwing them back at my mother.
She barely gets out of the way of the projectile and her mouth falls open in shock. “Ivy Hendersen. Have you lost your mind?” She shakes her head, pretending to be flustered. “God, you’re such a nuisance.” She frowns.
Sighing, I turn to the guys, already feeling my blood pressure going up. Yep, orgasmic high is definitely long gone. “Thanks for helping me move the table.” I try to keep the weak lie going. “I’ll see you guys later.”
It’s not what I want, I want to sit down and talk with them not send them away. I want to talk about the scorching sex we just had and the obvious feelings that the two men are trying to keep from each other.
But as per usual, my mother is ruining everything.
The guys take my cue though and nod in understanding. Emmet almost messes up when he leans into kiss my cheek but Chase steps in the way and grabs him before he can and his mouth parts in an o as he sends me an apologetic look.
I only give him a smile in answer and walk them to the door, but my mother’s watchful gaze never leaves me. Looks like I won’t be able to sneak in even one kiss.
When I close the door behind them, I let out a deep sigh and head back in the direction of my mother. My nose scrunches at the strong smell of her ivory perfume.
“Why are you here early? Cheat on Jack and he decided he’s going to divorce you.” I ask.
She narrows her eyes at me, but the look doesn’t have near the effect she wants since half her face is frozen. “No, me and Jack are going strong. I just wanted more time to spend with my grandkids.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “You know, the ones you’ve been keeping away from me.”