DAMIAN’S POV
“Mom?”
The word came out smaller than I intended.
Sounded like the kid I used to be, standin’ in the doorway with my backpack still on, watchin’ her zip that last Louis Vuitton shut.
Nine years.
Nine damn years since she walked out on us. Nine years of her jet-settin’ around the world with a new boyfriend every season, never once pickin’ up the phone to check if her sons were even breathin’.
Nine years of me tellin’ myself I didn’t care, while I secretly checked her stories on a burner account like some pathetic creep.
And now she’s here.
My heart slammed so hard I felt it in my teeth. Cindy’s hand was in mine, but I couldn’t feel my fingers.
Everything tunneled to those eyes, starin’ back at me, cold and measurin’, like she was decidin’ whether I’d grown into someth
