Jayson: A New Adult / Coming of Age Romance (20 page)

“Of course we can go,” Kit murmurs, heading for the door.

I shake my head. “No, not back through there. Can I just…um, is there no way to cut around the side of the house and get back to the front? I think it was all the people inside that overwhelmed me. I don’t know. Crowds don’t usually bother me. I just…” I stumble over the lie.

Kitrina apologetically shakes her head in answer to my question about a detour. She lays the back of her hand on my forehead, an instinctive touch that practically kills me with its sweetness. “I hate that you’re not feeling well, but we’ll have to soldier through to the front door. Mom usually keeps areas blocked off when she hosts a gathering so she can keep track of what parts of the property people have access to.”

So I have no choice. With growing dread, I follow her inside. For her part, Kitrina tries mightily to ensure we encounter as few people as possible, but it’s not the rest of the guests I’m worried about running into. “Let me just go say goodbye to my mom. I want her to know we stopped in,” Kitrina says over her shoulder.

“I’ll wait in the truck for you—.” Before the words can clear my lips, we step around a corner, and come face to face with them. Candace Schneider and Lamont.

“Sneaking out so fast?” Candace pins me with a look. There’s a challenge in the cold depths of her blue eyes that puts me on guard. I straighten to my full height. The truth is Candace Schneider is a concerned parent, doing what concerned parents do. We both want the same thing for Kitrina, which is to make her life as trouble free as possible. I’ve done my part by keeping what would hurt her most to myself. Of course, Candace has to reveal the very things I kept secret to do her part.

“Mrs. Schneider,” I reply coolly.

“
I
n the flesh
,” she purrs.

Mom and the young man cling together beside the branching double staircase before the foyer. She has her hand on his chest, and he has his arm around her with fingertips resting on the curve of her buttocks. I squint in distaste. It’s so unlike my mother’s usual decorum that I find it a shock to see up close.

“Actually, we were just looking for you. It seems we have to beat a hasty retreat. Jayson’s not feeling well, unfortunately, but I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye and wishing you a Merry Christmas. This is for you.” I manifest a small gift box. “It’s not much, but I immediately thought of you when I saw it. Mom, I’m sure you remember Jayson.”

“Indeed,” she sneers.

My eyes surreptitiously sweep the room to see how many people play audience to the scene. The small group of us squares off tensely, and I swear I hear the theme music for a Wild West duel. A server passes and Mom grabs another cocktail, depositing her empty glass and the gift I just gave her on his tray—disposal, I guess. I smack my lips in irritation. But it’s not like her to drink anything other than wine at a party.

“Well, aren’t you going to introduce me to your
friend
, Mom?” There’s censure in my voice that I wish wasn’t so obvious.

Candace chuckles, as if the entire situation tickles her to death. I scowl, knowing she’s getting a kick out of turning the tables. It’s quite apparent that, no, I don’t approve of this stranger standing next to my mother. I look him over.

He isn’t a very tall man, and his physique is rangy and unimpressive, which means my father’s favorite suit had to have been altered to fit him so well. Thin gold chains peek from the collar of his white shirt, and I notice a gaudy gold watch and outdated pinky ring. In my unforgiving eyes, he looks like a pawnbroker or a pimp. Truthfully, he isn’t unattractive. His long chestnut hair is swept back from a handsome face. His smooth, gaunt cheeks and soft chin make him appear younger. Up close, I’d place him closer to Jayson’s age than mine.

“Hi, I’m Lamont Stephens.” He slithers forward and grabs my hand, squeezing my fingers a second too long. I jerk my hand away, and he chuckles in amusement. “Forgive me if I seemed rude for not introducing myself sooner. I didn’t want to barge in, what with all the…well, I’ve been dying to meet you! Your mother talks about you endlessly. Imagine my surprise when I found out my girlfriend’s daughter is dating my best friend from high school.” None of his pleasure to meet me reaches his calculating light brown eyes.

“Oh, darling, they’re not dating,” Candace interjects. “No, he did some work on her house for her, and Kitrina’s such a bleeding heart that she invited him along. Or so she says.” Her gaze collides with mine, and I realize Mom wasn’t fooled in the slightest by my attempt to play my relationship with Jayson off as a friendship.

I open my mouth to comment, but the words dry up at the look shared between this Lamont guy and Jayson. There’s a threat in Lamont’s eyes that has Jayson on edge. Wait—did he say his best friend from high school? What’s going on here?

“Well, don’t stand there like you don’t recognize me, buddy. Bring it in!” Lamont damn near shouts each word and gestures broadly when he talks. If nobody was paying attention to us before, they definitely are now. Jayson gets pulled into a stiff hug. Pumping Jayson’s hand enthusiastically, Lamont says, “Me and this cat used to run the streets together. Man, he was like a
brother
to me. Hard to imagine, right? I mean, me, owner of the biggest tech startup in America, and this guy.”

Mom sips her cocktail, eyebrow raised mockingly. “Small world.”

“So, what do you do now, Jayson?” Lamont asks.

“I’m sure my loving mother would be happy to fill you in on all the details about Jayson’s illustrious career, Lamont, but we have to go now. As I said before, he’s not feeling well. Come on, Jayson,” I coax.

Jayson clears his throat in the middle of my grand attempt to extricate us from the conversation and answers for himself. “I own a construction company.” I look down, wishing we could disappear. This is Mom’s attempt to make Jayson feel inferior, flaunting his childhood friend in front of him like a show pony to contrast Lamont’s position in life with Jayson’s.

“Why are you doing this?” I ask her quietly. My eyebrows come together in anger.

Candace shrugs carelessly. “Whatever are you talking about, dear? Jesus, what time is it? I should be getting everyone to the dining room.”

“You’re drunk,” I accuse in a whisper for her ears only. Mom titters dismissively.

“Did you say construction?” Lamont bellows. “Ha! I can see how that fits. You were always good with your hands.” He holds up his fists and throws mock punches.

“Congratulations on your success,” Jayson mumbles in a rush. “If you all will excuse me, I really need to get going. I don’t want to ruin your lovely floors, Mrs. Schneider, but it seems something has really turned my stomach.” Jayson pulls away from me and heads hurriedly towards the front door. My attempt to follow him is met with protest. “No, you should stay, Kitrina. I don’t want to drag you away from the party. Let me send someone around to get you when you’re ready to go home.”

“What?” I pull back in surprise. He looks at me pointedly, as if now isn’t a good time to counter him, but none of this was in the plans. All the while Mother watches me shrewdly, a knowing smirk on her face. “No, I’m leaving with you.”

“Kit, don’t make this an issue, not here, not now,” Jayson says quietly. “I told you from the beginning I had a bad feeling about how things would go if I showed up. I should never have come here. Hell, Candace is probably right that I shouldn’t be in your life at all. Damn it, Kit!” He cuts short his frustrated rambling and runs a hand over his face, wiping away his ire. I want to hold him. Behind that blank expression has to be embarrassment and God knows what other unspoken thoughts, but we have to show solidarity in this.

“Jayson, don’t let her get under your skin like this, please.” I blink back tears. I know he’s not going to let her win. After everything we talked about, everything that’s at stake. If I let Jayson walk out of that door without me, it will make Mom think I’m not strong enough to stand up to her. I’m not about to let that happen. “We’re in this together, right?” I remind him plaintively.

Jayson shakes his head, once. It’s enough. “Just stay, okay?”

My mother crudely cuts in, “Oh, screw him! Let him go, Kitrina. Darling, never, never beg a man for anything, especially one who isn’t even on your level. Now, come on with me. I cooked your favorite, too. Have you tried these cocktails? The bartender is a hit, let me tell you!”

She paws at my arm as Jayson continues to the door. Lamont watches it all like it gives him great joy to be privy to this entertaining little family spat. I’m torn. I can’t let Jayson leave without me, but seeing Mom flat-out drunk at her own party is alarming. Has she been drinking like this since I moved out? I don’t want to leave Candace behind in the state she’s in, and one look at Lamont tells me he won’t protect her from herself. He’s too busy reveling in the madness.

“Jayson, wait!” I order in frustration. He halts and I turn to Candace.

At my words, Mom flings her glass to the floor angrily. It shatters, making everyone jump and stare at her in alarm. Mom jabs a finger in Jayson’s direction. “Don’t you dare walk out that door with that bastard. If you choose him over me, I will never forgive you, Kitrina Anne.” The pleasant buzz of conversation in the other room dies down. A few bewildered guests peek out to see what’s going on.

“Mom, it’s not like that.” Raising hands in surrender, I take a cautious step toward her, trying to calm her down. “Look, I know you’re upset. Let me clear the house for you before I go. Please? I’ll tell everyone you’re not feeling well. Your friends will understand. I don’t think you’re in any condition to be entertaining. You’ve had too much to drink.”

Mom crows with laughter that spears at me like daggers. It doesn’t matter that I know she’s drunk. In vino veritas, right? “Oh my god, you’re priceless, Kitrina! What do you care what condition I’m in? You haven’t called me or come to see me in I don’t know how long, and now you want to play the doting daughter in front of guests? Are you people seeing this?”

A gasp slips free as I stare at Mom in disbelief. I’m imagining what she’ll think in the morning at the same time that I feel belittled and shamed in front of her guests. My eyes dart around to our audience. Some look away uncomfortably. These are people we’ve known for years, and nothing like this has ever happened before in our house. I can imagine the gossip that will fly when this is all over.
Please, let them just leave
, I pray.

Eyes downcast, I say quietly, “You know I’ve reached out to you. It was you who made it clear you didn’t want to have much to do with me unless I played your game.”

“Well, now, I’ve been around for a good bit, Kitrina, not that you’d notice. I can’t say that I’ve seen you reaching out much,” Lamont contributes blandly.

“This is crazy,” I reply hoarsely. “Are you serious? You don’t even belong here, so kindly keep your opinion out of this.”

“He belongs more than your goddamned charity case over there. Why do I even bother with you anymore, Kitrina? Oh, go ahead and go with your contractor. Lamont and I have everything under control here.” She crooks a finger and Lamont strolls over to her. He makes a show of kissing her lips in a PDA display worthy of late night TV. I divert my gaze, feeling sick.

“Bye, Kit,” Lamont replies with a wave of his fingers. The urge to hit him in the face is almost too much to suppress

“Understand this,” Candace calls over her shoulder as she saunters out of the room, “if you leave with that hoodlum, consider yourself dead to me. I did it with my own parents. What makes you think I won’t do it with you?”

“You mean to tell me you’d disown me for being with Jayson?” I say incredulously to her back.

My volume rises to match my anger. “Why? Because he’s not rich enough, Mom? Because he doesn’t come from the right family? What is it? Tell me exactly why he isn’t good enough!”

Jayson steps forward and puts a calming hand on my shoulder. “Kit, it’s okay. Don’t fight on my account. I’ve got thick skin, but I’m not leaving you here alone to be treated like this. I’ll wait with you out front until Cast can swing through and take you home so your mother doesn’t make the mistake of shutting you out for good, thinking you’re leaving with me,” he murmurs against my ear. I lean into his touch, eyes closed. How could she ask me to give this up?

“No, it’s not fine. If she doesn’t accept you, then she might as well disown me because you’re a part of me, Jayson. So, take a good look at me, Mom! Get high enough up on your high horse to take a good look,” I shout. Candace keeps walking, and I feel invisible, and it hurts. I notice guests slipping into the coatroom to grab their things and leave, and the foyer empties of all but Jayson, Lamont and me.

“Ugh! This is going too far,” Lamont says. “Kitrina, you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into, leaving with a man like Jayson. I grew up with him. I know him. All his hidden little ways. Take it from me. You should leave this scumbag alone.” Jayson scowls at Lamont.

“I don’t even know you,” I retort. “Why would I listen to a word you have to say? Matter of fact, why the fuck are you even here, you piece of—.”

“Kit, don’t.” Jayson wraps an arm around me and hauls me away before I can claw the eyeballs out of Lamont’s arrogant face. “Lamont, I don’t know why the hell you have it in for me, but I’ve got no beef with you. Whatever you’ve got going on with Mrs. Schneider is between you and her. As for me and Kit, we’re none of your goddamned business. Man, what’s gotten into you? You’ve changed.”

“Oh, I’ve changed?” Lamont spits. “Well, I guess you’re right, but it’s for the better. Here’s the thing, Jayson. We both got out of the same hellhole, but you did it with your brawny strength, tough guy, and I did it with my brains. I don’t have a problem with you, Jayson. I’m just trying to protect my future daughter-in-law from settling for someone like you when…well, she could be with someone more like me. Like us. All of us here. Except you.”

“Where do you get off talking to him like that?” I snarl.

“Acting exactly like you used to act? I’ve been on the receiving end of classism, so don’t try to put me in my place, Kitrina Schneider. Or has slumming it suddenly made you forget you actually aren’t the underdog here? You chose to be common. I mean, look at you! He’s already debasing you. You’re causing a scene like a hoodrat—.”

Jayson lunges forward, snatching Lamont off his feet by the lapels. The rage propels them all the way to the wall and Jayson issues a vicious, quiet threat. “Don’t you ever fucking insult her again, you understand me? I don’t know what you told Kitrina’s mother to weasel your way into her life, but I assure you she won’t stand for you talking to her daughter like that. Candace Schneider is the least of your problems if you do it again around me.”

Jayson shoves Lamont back. Lamont drops to the floor, and Jayson pops his knuckles like he’d rather smash his face than walk off like he does.

“Okay, I think it’s time for you to get out,” Lamont responds coolly. He shakily gets to his feet.

“Let’s go, Jayson.” I grab Jayson’s hand and walk with him out the door. He pauses in front of the house, waiting with me like he said he would, but I have no intention of waiting for Cast. I keep walking towards Jayson’s truck. Jayson reluctantly follows me but tries to get me to stay.

“Kit, we should wait out here. Candace doesn’t need to think you drove off with me, and I know she has her people watching to report back to her. I already texted my brother. You won’t have to wait long to get home,” he says tiredly.

“I told you I’m not! Open the goddamn door!”

“Fuck, Kitrina!”

“Don’t you humiliate me in front of all these people too,” I plead softly, tears rolling one after the other down my face. Guests bump past us, evacuating the scene of disaster. Some look like they want to speak to me but I turn my face away. I only want to talk to Jayson. I take his chin in my hands and make him look at me. My voice is quiet but adamant. “I’m not stupid for loving you. You’re not wrong for loving me, and we’re NOT letting these people win. Now open the door!”