Free Insomnia (Sexual Misconduct Volume I) by Bethany Bazile Page B

hiding something.
    I sat across from Avery, and she looked confused. “How do you know my mother?”
    “She ’s a family friend… or at least that’s what she told me.”
    “When did she tell you this?”
    “Years ago. After my parents died. There was no one that ever came to see me, but your mom showed up at the foster home one day, and she said she was a friend of my parents. She didn’t like where I was staying so she got me moved to a safer place, and she came to visit me every month.” She looked at me, worrying her lip. “Xander, your mom is the only person who’s ever been there for me, and now… I realize I don’t know anything about her.”
    I got up and joined her o n the other couch. I sat back, and she leaned her head against my chest.
    “I mean , how horrible am I that she’s been there for me for over eleven years and I never knew who she was married to or who her kids were?”
    “Or maybe she purposely kept it from you?”
    She sat up and stared at me. “You think she didn’t want anyone to know about me?”
    Shit . I shouldn’t have said that out loud. I didn’t know why Avery was this big secret for my mother, but the look on her face proved to me she didn’t ever expect any of us to know about Avery and whatever her connection to her was.
    “ No, I don’t think that. Come here.” I pulled her back against me and held her there. “I’m glad you had her in your corner. She’s pretty amazing when she’s on your side.”
    “I know.” S he sighed. “But something’s off here, Xander. She told me her last name was Reynolds and she kept all the details about you and your brother to a minimum.”
    “Reynolds is her maiden name.” My suspicion grew, because now I was sure she was hiding something, but I didn’t want Avery over thinking anything until I knew what it was. “Let me give you a tour. We’ll clear everything up later.” I pulled her up off the couch and led her through the house that seemed so empty now that my father was gone.
    *~*~*
    The awkward tension didn’t improve by dinnertime. We all sat down to eat, and an eerie silence fell over the table. As we finished up, I got tired of waiting for my mother to speak up and broke the silence.
    “So , Mom, how did you know Avery’s parents?”
    She froze with her fork halfway to her mouth and stared at me. “We were friends… when we were younger.” She continued to eat, but her vague response only made me more suspicious.
    “How come no one in the family’s ever met her?”
    She dropped her fork and started to rise. “Well, you know you boys are always busy. You haven’t been home in years.” She gathered a few dishes and scurried off into the kitchen. I looked at Avery, and she gave me a puzzled look that expressed exactly how I felt.
    “I ’ll be right back.” I pushed back my chair, dropped my napkin on the table, and followed my mother into the kitchen. She busied herself with loading the dishwasher, and then she pulled a pie out of the oven, all along pretending she didn’t see me watching her.
    “What was that , Mom?”
    “What are you talking about, dear?” I caught her arm as she tried to leave the room and spun her to face me.
    “ You’ve been quiet and nervous ever since Avery arrived here. I know you, Mom. Something’s going on.”
    She sighed and dropped her head. When she looked back up, her demeanor was less shuttered, but the worried look remained. “Just be careful, Xander. She’s been through so much… Don’t—don’t hurt her.”
    I dropped my hand from her arm and stepped back. “Do you actually think I’d hurt her?”
    “No. N o.” She stepped forward, trying to reach out to me, but I deflected her touch. “I know you’d never purposely hurt her… I just…” She sighed again.
    “ Wow. Maybe we should leave.” She was the only person who stood by me, and I didn’t like the feeling I was getting from this conversation.
    “No , at least stay for dessert.”
    “I don