“Jared, I want a picture!” my loud-mouthed and unusually invasive mother shouted as I raced up the stairs.
Picture?
I shook off my annoyance as I looked for my car keys on my dresser. Tate and I were headed to Homecoming.
Scratch that—Tate, Madoc, and I were headed to Homecoming. They were both waiting outside when all I really wanted to do was punch him in the gut, send him home, and skip town with Tate for the weekend.
But…the asshole did have a hand in making me jealous, forcing me to act, and he was a good friend.
Most of all, though, Tate wanted to go. I owed her that.
“No pictures. Jesus,” I cursed, shaking my head as I snatched my keys and rushed downstairs.
But my mother was waiting at the bottom. “Oh, no you don’t.” She grabbed my arm to stop me as I tried to walk past her.
I turned, trying to appear annoyed, but I was a little amused at how naturally she wore the mother role.
Ever since our heart-to-heart at the fish pond, we’d found some common ground. We still weren’t all hugs and kisses, but we spoke gentler and showed more patience.
“What?” I couldn’t hide the smile that peeked out. “I don’t do pictures…Mom.”
Her eyes widened with a sparkle, and she cleared her throat before straightening my black tie.
“Alright, but I do have something to say, and you’re not going to like it.” She kept her eyes trained on her task of fixing my tie and steadied her voice with a firm tone. “Honey, I couldn’t be happier that you and Tate found your way back to each other—”
Oh, Christ.
I started to turn away.
“But,” she said loudly, pulling me back around to face her, “baby mommas don’t usually marry baby daddies.”
Every word was bit out like I was too stupid to understand.
I cocked my head to the side and looked down at her, indulging her need to make a point I already understood.
Don’t get Tate pregnant. Yeah, thanks. I got it!
Her eyes peered up at mine, threatening. “You’ve been over there almost every night—well, every night, actually—and if you make me a thirty-six year old grandmother, I’m going to kill you.”
She was joking.
I think.
Anyway, my mother had nothing to worry about. Tate and I were careful, and she’d been keeping me off of her all week anyway. She didn’t want to get distracted from classes, and I hadn’t been pushing it.
Tonight, though? Yeah, she was in for it.
Letting out a sigh, I gave my mother a quick peck on the cheek and slid out the front door.
Tate was standing on her front porch, looking gorgeous as hell, talking to Madoc like they were friends.
I shook my head, not believing the turn of events. She’d broken his nose, kicked him in the junk, and traded words more than once with him.
But she was like her dad. Solve the problem and move on.
And Madoc was more than ready to move on. He had been excited for the dance, and was dressed to impress. We looked almost exactly the same, but whereas I wore all black, he changed his suit up with a purple tie.
Tate still looked the same—beautiful and glowing—but a little more dangerous. I half-expected to get in a fight over someone flirting with her tonight. She was wearing a tight, nude-colored, strapless dress that fell mid-thigh. I could see so much of her skin that it was pretty clear what she looked like naked.
Walking up to Tate, I kissed the soft spot under her ear. “Sorry that took so long. My mom was giving me a talk.”
“About?” she pressed, as Madoc came over and took her other arm.
“About not getting you pregnant,” I whispered out of the corner of my mouth but kept my eyes forward.
Even though I wasn’t looking at her, though, I could see her stiffen, and I heard her clear her throat.
And I shouldn’t have told her that.
I really needed to put a halt to my honesty streak, but there was still something I needed to tell her, and I’d been on too much of a high the last week to face it.
Later, I told myself.
“Are we ready?” Madoc asked from her other side.
Her clutch on my arm relaxed, and I felt her exhale a breath.
“Totally,” she nodded at Madoc. “This is the start of a great friendship.”
“It could be the start of a great porno, too,” Madoc shot back, and I clenched my fists.
“Son of a bitch!” I yelled, half-annoyed and half-joking. “You’re going to get it tonight,” I warned, but they both just laughed.