Saved By A Bad Boy

[40]. Mr. Predator, Sir...

Once you tell a secret, I suppose the only thing you can do afterwards is just keep telling it. At least, that's how this has been going. First Jax, and then the police officers, the detectives, and now...now my mom. She had just gotten the call. Detective Melanie Blair, telling her that they'd be sending over a couple of policemen to check out our house to assess our security levels. There were already reports made on Troy.

Reports my mom didn't know about. Until now.

I was in the room as she set down the phone. Her eyes had glazed over at the first mention of her ex-husband. Things had been going so well...it was almost like she completely forgot about that night months ago, when he called and warned us of his return. I almost forgot about it myself.

"Are you gonna explain that?" she began calmly.

So I did. I told her that Troy was coming back, and that he wanted me. But that wasn't the hardest part. She knew that from the call.

I had to tell her that he always wanted me. Even back then.

There were a lot of tears, a lot of anger and frustration, and shame. In the end, we both wound up on the couch, her arm around me as my head leaned against her shoulder, tears streaming down both of our faces.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Mom," I said. She pecked my cheek.

"It's okay, honey. You were scared. We both were," she assured me, stroking my hair. Her voice shook as she spoke the next sentence. "I'm sorry that I let it happen."

"You didn't," I said hurriedly. Naturally, she felt the same guilt that Jax felt when he found out this had all been happening right under his nose. But how could I ever blame him, or my mom? I didn't tell them. I kept this specifically from them.

"I love you," she whispered. I wiped my eyes.

"I love you too," I replied. "And Mom?"

"Yes, honey?" She said. I managed a smile. After pouring out my heart and soul once again to her, I felt the need to lighten the mood. I think some positive news could help us both right now.

"There's something else I've been keeping from you," I said. She raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"Well, I started dating Jax," I admitted. She stared at me for a moment. And then she laughed. It was a tinkling, high-pitched, beautiful laugh. Sometimes, I think I remember that laugh from when I was a little girl, and my real dad was here. They made each other laugh all the time. I laughed, too.

"What? When?" she shrieked, still smiling. I grinned.

"Well, we kissed at the Christmas party," I began. My mom's eyes bugged out of her head. She was taking this much better than Maya would, I was sure. "And then we went on our first date on New Year's."

"You've been keeping this from me for a month and a half?" she asked. Still smiling. Her arm tightened around me. "Oh, I'm so happy. I always knew that you two were made for each other."

"Yeah, we are," I said. I found some of my own happiness returning. Jax, my best friend. My protector. My...boyfriend? That was too good to be true.

"Where is that boy, anyway?" My mother asked. "I need to give him a hug or a housekey or something." I laughed.

"He's upstairs," I informed her. He'd been up there this whole time, to offer me and my mom some privacy. At this point, he refused to leave us alone, which - I guess - I could understand. After everything I gave him to worry about, I wasn't about to make him go.

I also didn't want him around if Troy came calling.

"Well, in a few minutes, get him down here. We have a lot to talk about," my mom said excitedly. It was surreal, to think that even with the threat of Troy hanging over our heads, we could smile and laugh and talk about my latest relationship status. This wasn't like with Mrs. Maxwell, when tragedy struck and we all went our separate ways. This time, my mom, Jax and I were in this together.