“I wanted to surprise you.”
The blonde pushed strands of damp hair out of Angela’s face, then hugged her as if it strained her to do so. When she stepped back, she looked her over and said, “You’ve gained some weight, I see.”
Before Angela could answer, the woman gave Jason the once-over, letting her gaze roam slowly, carefully, down the length of him. “And who do we have here?”
“Mom, I’d like you to meet Rob. The guy I mentioned on the phone the last time we talked.”
“Nice to meet you, Rob.” Her mother came up on her tiptoes and kissed him on one cheek and then the other. “You can call me Samantha.” She looped an arm through his and ushered him inside the house, leaving Angela to follow behind.
He could hear music playing and people talking.
“It sounds like you’re having a party,” Angela said.
“Just a few friends.” Samantha dragged him into the main room. “Everyone! I’d like you to meet my daughter, Angela, and her boyfriend, Rob.”
There were three women and two men sitting in various spots inside a vast living space with floor to ceiling windows. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. Jason, on the other hand, didn’t like the idea of being seen by too many people. He wasn’t sure what the deal was with Angela and her mother, but the tension between the two women was thick and uncomfortable.
“Is this the daughter who spends most of her time with a bunch of stiffs?” a woman asked.
They all laughed.
“Looks like she caught herself a live one, though,” another woman said.
More laughter.
Samantha ushered them both to the kitchen. “What can I get you two?”
“Nothing for me,” Jason told her.
She filled two glasses with champagne and handed one to Angela and one to Jason.
Jason set his full glass back on the counter. He needed to get out of there before someone recognized him.
Angela took a sip.
“Oh, come on,” Samantha said, trying to hand Jason his glass again and nearly toppling over in the process.
“Mom, I’m sorry to show up without notice, but I hope it’s okay if we stay the night.”
“Of course.”
“Thanks,” Angela said. “It’s good to see you having fun. Every time we’ve talked recently, you tell me you’re bored and spending your weekends alone.”
“That was before I met Gordon, over there.” Samantha indicated a man seated on a sofa across the room. He waved in response. Then Samantha laughed as she reached for Jason and gave his arm a squeeze before brushing a hand over his jaw.
She’d obviously had too much to drink.
Angela blushed. “Mom. Please. Leave him alone.”
“Oh, would you look at that? My daughter’s getting all territorial.”
Jason’s eyelids felt like cement blocks. “If it’s all right with you two,” he cut in, “I need to get some, sleep since we’ll be heading off early in the morning.”
“So soon?”
“It can’t be helped.”
“After you lovebirds visit with my friends, you can take the guestroom upstairs, second room to the left.”
He turned to Angela. “Why don’t you spend time with your mom? I’m going to go get some shut-eye. We have a long drive tomorrow.”
Angela looked desperate to be saved, but hell, it had been her idea to stay with her mom. If he didn’t get some rest, he wasn’t going to be able to handle another long drive like today. He walked off, leaving them both staring after him.
***
It was nearly two in the morning when Jason sat up in a cold sweat. Another nightmare, he realized; a regular occurrence since his first night behind bars.
Angela had yet to come to bed.
His mouth felt dry. He needed water.
He climbed out of bed, and made it to the top of the stairs when he heard Angela telling everyone goodnight. Then Samantha called out to her daughter.
“What is it, Mom?”
“As your mother I feel it’s my job to warn you not to get too excited about that man upstairs.”
“Why do you say that?”
“He’s a player, plain and simple. Those kinds of men don’t stick around for long. Trust me.”
“Not all men are like Dad,” Angela said.
“This has nothing to do with your father.”
“It’s late, Mom. I’ll talk to you tomorrow when you’re sober.”
“Oh, here we go, time for a lecture from my little girl. I had a couple of drinks. So what? When are you going to loosen up and live a little?”
“Good night, Mom.”
Jason went back into the bedroom. He climbed under the covers and feigned sleep. Angela’s footsteps echoed down the hall on the way to the bathroom. It was another few minutes before the bedroom door opened and closed. “Are you awake?” she asked.
He looked toward the door, where Angela stood motionless in the dark. Moonlight spilled in through the open blinds, and he could see she was wearing nothing but a T-shirt that hung to her knees. “What’s wrong, Angela?”
“That’s the first time you’ve called me by my name.”