“I’m gonna kill that bitch! Just wait!”
Lo grabbed her wrist and drew closer toward her face. For the first time in years, Lo peered into his mother’s eyes. All the emotions he’d been suppressing over the years came flooding his mind. Suddenly, he missed everything about Ada. Her touch, her one-of-a-kind scent, and her humor. But he couldn’t allow himself to dwell in yearning for his mother. Hehad sworn her out of his life years ago and couldn’t go back on his commitment to reject her from his life.
“Go home.”
Lo quickly let her go and spun around before he submitted to the temptation to hold her.
“You're weak, Kylo! You know she was wrong, but you can’t acknowledge it. You picked the wrong side!” Ada yelled.
He rotated quickly, facing her. “Nah, I chose the right side. The side that listened to me instead of ignored me. I chose the side that wasn’t worried about appearances and didn’t care what other people thought. That’s the fucking side I chose.”
Lo swiftly gave Ada his back and walked to where Bria was. She looked horrified wearing parted lips and widened eyes.
“Come on. We leaving,” he told her.
“No, Lo, don't leave,” Maddy begged. “Don't let your ignorant mama ruin the day.”
That was impossible when Ada had come to dig up a grave for his emotions. She’d exposed him. He felt naked because she’d brought up problems that he’d left behind twenty years ago.
“Nah, I’m good. Come on, Bria.”
Lo headed for his truck with Bria closely behind him. Her heels clicked against the pavement as he marched down the street. His mind was a scrambled mess. He couldn’t think straight. His thoughts raced like they were on a track. Lo had to get far away from Maddy’s house before he transformed into the beast he was known to be. Getting inside the truck, he started the engine and took a deep breath. Once he knew Bria was safely inside, Lo drove away at high speed.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
Lo didn’t answer her because he couldn’t admit that he wasn’t okay. Instead of badgering him, Bria grabbed his free hand and held it. He wished he could convey to her the power ofher touch. It soothed his overactive nerves in an instant despite his anger still being present.
The drive home was silent. There was so much to talk about, but Lo couldn’t fathom expressing anything. He was too incensed to make a cohesive sentence. The only thing he wanted to do was go smoke and be alone with his thoughts. Arriving in the driveway, he pulled around the front and hit the button to unlock the door.
Bria peered at him. “You're not coming in?”
Shaking his head, he replied, “I’ll see you later.”
Sadness covered her features. She was disappointed but Lo couldn’t nurse her feelings at the moment. Not when his mind felt like it was in a blender.
Slightly nodding her head, Bria exhaled then got out the truck. Lo watched her walk inside the house before heading to his lab so he could ruminate in peace.
Days later…
Bria’s bonding time with Lo had been short-lived. Ever since the blow-up with his family, he had retreated back to his cocoon, ignoring the outside world, including her. He was back to his one-worded answers and no acknowledgement of her presence. Bria was frustrated and didn’t know how she was going to endure this turbulence with Lo. They had finally made strides in their marriage only for him to pull back once again.
After much thought, Bria figured out something. Lo was triggered by his mother. There was something about her presence that caused him to shut down. Once she witnessed the blow-up between Ada and Maddy, Bria determined that something had happened to Lo at one point in time. All partieswere wounded by the event. It broke her heart seeing Ada cry. Her tears were the size of rain drops. There was so much pain in her voice that Bria wanted to hug her, but she didn’t want to upset Lo. So, she watched in silence, hoping she would get answers to why this family was so broken.
Bria needed some help, so she drove to the bistro on the east side of the city to meet up with her mother. This was one of their favorite places to get lunch, mainly because of the beautiful view of the ocean. Bria walked inside, spotting her mother at their favorite booth.
“Well, hello,” Cecilia greeted, pulling her in for a hug.
“Hey, Mama.” Bria pulled back. “Are you still sad without me?”
Cecilia rolled her eyes, making her laugh.
“Girl, please. Me and your father have been having a ball without you cramping our style.”
Smacking her lips, Bria took a seat. “Girl, don't nobody say that anymore.”
“Well, I do,” she quipped. “But your presence is missed. How has it been going with Kylo?”
Bria exhaled just as the waiter approached the table. After taking their orders, she left them alone.
