The Ride of a Lifetime

16. Nerves. Pending

"You're forbidden to ever see that boy again."

I look incredulously at my mother once I enter the living room. She was sitting rigidly on the couch, stare telling me all I needed to know.

"Really." A smile tugs the corner my lips.

I feel a ghost of a smile when she sighs, dropping the whole disciplinary facade.

"Child, you know I can never pull the whole serious parent thing off." She waves dismissively, beckoning me over. "But Luna, that doesn't make my point any different."

I slide in next to her, eyes on my lap.

"I know what you're thinking. But.. he did have a reason for snapping like that." My voice was quiet. "Even if it wasn't necessarily valid."

She sends me a warming smile. "You're smart. I just don't trust those teenage hormones you all seem be experiencing. It's funny, really. That Max would be the one to be involved with a purity like Jayden while you're attracted to the you-know-what types."

I cringed. "Well, when you put it like that." My mother laughs, the sound relaxing my body.

"I don't approve of someone who would run around picking fights, no matter the reason. So either show that young man who's boss or" she makes a cutting motion with her hand and I quirk an unamused brow.

It was weird to be talking to my mum about someone who I can barely get my head around. I know nothing about him, after all.

Besides the fact that he has a diagnosed sister and how he drives me absolutely crazy.

With my mother tucking strands of loose her behind my ear, I couldn't help but wonder whether my decisions would become my own demise.

"How is it over there? I'm so glad I'm not crawling around trying to pick things off from the carpet." I say, making weird shadows with my hand against the wall. Jayden laughs on the other line.

"Lachlan left a little while ago. God, he's too kind for his own good. He said he'll message you to remind you that he won't be pressing any charges."

I keep the guilt from creeping into my voice. "Mm."

"What happened? Why on Earth were you with Javis in the first place?"

It dawned on me that I actually haven't told Jayden anything about us. It would sound too official; too real. "Well, he-"

"Oh my God, you better fucking spill the tea. I can basically hear the secrets dying to be heard through the phone."

I smiled. That was the thing with Jayden. She didn't mind it when I took my sweet ass time to lay everything out to her. She was willing to accept it in any shape, late or immediate.

Right. Here goes nothing.

By the time I finish, the silence from Jayden's side was making me think she had fallen asleep or tripped down the flight of stairs. Both were a good bet.

"Wow."

Indeed. 

I chuckled nervously, the familiar anxiousness at revealing my thoughts to someone bubbling in my stomach.

I trusted Jayden, though. Hell, I trusted her with my life. Max had called my mother to ask to stay overnight, saying he had quite a few to drink. So while Jayden and I were having our little girl talk, he was very well dead in her room.