Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

Jordyn

I push open the door to the boutique, the bell jingling above me.

Mom is already flipping through a rack of summer dresses, her eyes sharp like she's scoping out a target.

It's been three weeks since Bama and I started this thing, this relationship, and I'm still riding that high.

Every time I think about him, my heart does this stupid little flutter, like a damn schoolgirl.

"Hey, Ma," I say, trying to sound casual as I join her.

The scent of lilacs and leather fills the air, familiar and comforting.

"Hey, sweetie," she says without looking up, her fingers skimming over the fabric. "Find anything good?"

"Not yet," I reply, but my mind's not really on the clothes.

It's on Bama. And how he'll look at me when I wear one of these dresses.

His ocean-blue eyes, that crooked grin—it makes me feel like I'm floating on a cloud.

"Try this one on, honey," Mom says, holding up a sundress with a pattern of sunflowers.

"Sure," I reply, taking the dress from her and pretending to inspect it.

My mind is miles away, drifting back to Bama's lopsided grin and those ocean-blue eyes.

"Jordyn," Mom's voice cuts through my thoughts like a knife. "When are you finally going to fess up that you and Bama are an item?"

The hanger in my hand slips, almost dropping the dress to the floor. "Wh-what?"

I snap my head up to meet her gaze. Her eyes, sharp as ever, pin me down.

"Don't play dumb with me, little girl," she says, crossing her arms. "You think I haven't noticed? You practically float around the house these days."

I swallow hard, my pulse quickening. Damn. So much for being discreet. "How... how did you know?"

"You're not exactly subtle," she smirks, picking at another dress on the rack. "And Stiletto might have let it slip that you've been staying over at the clubhouse. You're just lucky I was around and it wasn't your fathers."

"Stiletto?" I spit out, anger bubbling up inside me. She had no right. "Why would she do that?"

"Maybe she's jealous. Maybe she just likes stirring the pot," Mom shrugs. "Point is, I know. And I'm not mad. But your fathers . . ."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," I cut her off, frustration seeping into my tone. "They won't exactly be thrilled."

"Correct," she nods. "But that's their problem. As long as you're happy. That's the only thing that matters."

"Mom, I am happy. Happier than I think I deserve," I confess, feeling a lump form in my throat.

"Jordyn, you deserve the moon and back," she says, her voice softening. "Just remember, secrets don't stay buried forever. You need to tell them before somebody else does."

"Yeah, I will soon," I murmur as I sift through more dresses.

I yank a crimson dress off the rack, trying to shake off the storm brewing inside me.

I can't believe Stiletto. She had no right, and yet she still said something. Why? What's the point?

The silk feels smooth against my fingers, but it does nothing to calm the fire.

"Mom, while I'm happy, I'm furious at the same time," I confess, feeling a lump form in my throat. "I'm fucking pissed about Stiletto opening up her mouth. I should have come to you on my terms, not anybody else's."

"Oh, I know, sweetheart," she says, her voice softening. "Just make sure you tell your fathers soon. If they hear it from someone else they're going to be upset. You're one of their little girls, and they love you bunches."

I smile to myself, "I know, and I love them so much. You know, I've never talked to you about this, but how did you know it would work between the three of them? I mean, how did they not get jealous, or snap?"

"Well, that's a bit complicated." She admits.

I find a teal sundress that looks absolutely beautiful. "I'm sure it is, but how did you know?"

"I think I just knew . There was some part of me deep down that trusted the three of them more than life itself," she smirks, picking at another dress on the rack. "They made me feel so safe and I didn't want to give them up. I was just lucky that I was able to be with them."

Her words hit me right in the heart. "You guys have a beautiful love story, even though it is totally unconventional."

Mom laughs hard, "You have no idea. You should have seen your uncles' faces when they figured out I was with all of your fathers. They were so damn confused."

I stifle a laugh as I throw the teal dress over my arm. "I bet they were."

I yank another dress off the rack, my fingers trembling with a mix of frustration and adrenaline.

I love knowing more about my parents' love story, but what Stiletto did is really getting under my skin.

I pick up a bright pink dress that has a cool cutout on the back. It would totally show off my tattoo.

The fabric feels like sandpaper against me, even though it's probably some kind of overpriced silk blend.

Mom's voice slices through the haze of irritation clouding my mind. "What's eating at you? I can tell something is on your mind."

"Stiletto," I mutter under my breath, tossing the dress back onto the rack. "I think she told you about Bama on purpose."

"Why would she do that?" Mom asks, grabbing a hanger and examining the tag as if it holds all the answers.

"Because Bama and Stiletto used to be in a situationship," I say, feeling the word twist bitterly on my tongue. "And I think she's trying to mess with me. It wasn't serious between them. They were just sleeping together, you know?"

"Did they end things badly?" Mom looks up, her eyes narrowing slightly.

I shrug, feeling a tight knot form in my stomach. "I don't know. Bama doesn't really talk about it, and honestly I'm not sure I want to know."

"Regardless," Mom says, stepping closer and placing a hand on my shoulder, "if the two of you are happy, that's all that matters."

"Yeah," I breathe out, feeling some of the tension leak away. "You're right."

"Of course I am," she smirks, giving my shoulder a squeeze. "Now, let's find you something that'll knock Bama's socks off."

"Right," I nod, forcing a smile as I pull another dress from the rack.

My grip tightens around the hanger, imagining it's Stiletto's throat instead.

I swallow hard, my worries slowly eating away at me. "Do you think that the three of them will come around?"

She furrows her brows for a split second. "Who? Your fathers?"

I give her a curt nod.

"Of course they will, babygirl. They just want you to be happy. All you have to do is just give them some time."

"Time," I echo, staring at the rows of dresses but seeing only Bama's face. His crooked grin. His steady hands. His damn irresistible charm. "Yeah, okay."

"Now, how about this one?" Mom pulls out a dress with a flourish, breaking through my thoughts.

It's got a deep neckline and a skirt that flares out just enough.

"It's perfect," I say, taking it from her.

Mom and I walk through the charming boutique and head over to the dressing room area.

There's only one dressing room, so she lets me go in first. I start taking off my clothes and try on the teal dress first when she pipes up. "What's going on with you and Nova lately? You both seem distant."

Nova, my younger sister.

Licking my lips, I finish tying up the dress and open the dressing booth door. "I wish I could tell you what's going on. It seems like we're two ships who pass in the night, barely seeing each other," I suck in a deep breath.

She's not wrong in pointing out that we've been distant.

Nova and I used to be so close when we were younger, and now I find myself calling our older sister, Kat, just to have some sister time.

She lives in Las Vegas with her husband, Damon, who's the President of the Las Vegas charter. They have a little girl named Luna and are the perfect couple.

"Kat's got her own thing going on, you know, but she still finds time to talk to me." my voice breaks as I head back into the dressing room to try on the next dress.

She's got her own family and everything, so you think she'd be too busy to talk to me.

It's ironic, I feel the void now more than ever.

Nova and I used to spend so many nights with endless conversations, laughter, and underage drinking. Now, we barely see each other.

"I know," she whispers back. "But that doesn't mean you can't fix things with Nova or talk to Kat about what's going on. They're your sisters, Jordyn. Kat might even have some good insight."

I run a hand through my hair, "I know . . . it's just . . ."

Mom finishes for me. "Complicated?"

"Yeah," I let out a bitter chuckle, "Complicated."

Every word feels like a stone sinking in the pit of my stomach, pulling me down.

I'm not here to focus on the drama with my sister. I'm here to have a nice outing with my mother, so I need to do that.

"Did you want to go to any other stores after we're done here?" I ask as I finally get the next dress all zipped up.

Mom laughs, "Oh, they gave me their cards, so hell yes I want to."

I laugh hard, knowing I won't have to pay for a damn thing today.

God, my mom is a hoot.