Chapter 2

The second the words left my mouth, her face completely fell apart.

Her mouth twisted, her wrinkles digging deep into her scowl, looking like a lit firecracker.

"Live on your own?" Her voice was so shrill it could shatter glass. "Say that again?"

I kept my voice steady. "Brenda, Chase and I agreed on this a long time ago."

"Agreed? You agreed with him, but did you agree with me?"

She grabbed Chase’s arm, glaring at him with tears welling up in her eyes.

"You're my son! If you get married and don't let your mother live with you, what will people think? That my daughter-in-law threw me out on the street?"

Chase was jerked around by his mother, his expression turning from awkward to utterly humiliated.

His lips twitched. He stole a quick glance at me, then immediately looked down.

"Mom, um... we really did talk about it..."

"Talk about what!" She slapped him hard on the back with a loud thud.

"You spineless coward! Wrapped around a woman's finger before the ring is even on? Did I raise you for this?"

I clenched the strap of my purse, taking a deep breath.

"Brenda, please don't be upset. Why don't we go get some food first and talk about this later?"

"Later? Later you'll have my son completely brainwashed!" She glared at me, her eyes spitting fire.

"Let me tell you something. I don't care who paid for this place. Wherever my son lives, I live. If you don't like it, get the hell out right now."

Those words hit me like a bucket of freezing water.

Chase finally spoke up. "Mom, stop talking like that..."

"Stop talking how? Am I lying?" Her voice grew louder, her finger prodding my shoulder.

"Look at her! A divorced woman finding a young, unmarried guy like you, and she dares to make demands?"

I felt the blood rushing to my ears.

My divorce was a painful wound, and she was turning it into a knife, twisting it over and over.

"Brenda, can you stop bringing up my divorce?" I tried to keep my voice steady. "That's in the past."

"The past? You're damaged goods, and that never washes off."

She sneered. "My son is a good man for not holding it against you. You should be down on your knees in gratitude! And you want to kick me out? Who do you think you are?"

I turned my eyes to Chase.

He stood in place, his knuckles turning white as he clutched the hem of his shirt.

His eyes darted around, avoiding mine entirely.

"Chase," I called his full name.

"Yeah..." he mumbled.

"Your mom is talking to me like this, and you're just standing there?"

"That's just how she is, Chloe... Don't take it to heart..." His voice grew quieter and quieter, until the last few words were barely a whisper.

I stared at him for five long seconds.

Then I grabbed my purse and walked straight out the door.

Her screeching echoed from behind me: "Look at that attitude! Slamming the door on us? Chase, I swear, if you dare chase after her, I'm done with you!"

Chase didn't come after me.

I sat in my car, gripping the steering wheel, my hands trembling.

Not from fear, but from rage.

The afternoon sun blazed through the windshield, blindingly bright. I shut my eyes, his cowardly, silent stance replaying in my mind on an endless loop.

My phone buzzed.

A text from Chase: "Babe, please don't be mad. My mom is just harsh on the outside. I'll talk to her, I promise."

I didn't reply.

It buzzed again: "I love you. Please believe in me."

I tossed my phone onto the passenger seat and hit the gas.