Page 54 of Silk Sheets

By now, I was pacing up and down in the living room.

‘I’m moving in with two of my professors and their closest friend. Yes, they’re older than me, and yes, I have a sexual relationship with all of them.’

No… that’s not right.

‘Mom, don’t freak out, but my professor asked me to move in with him because I signed a contract that practically gives him full control over my life. But it’s okay because that’s what I want.’

No… not that either.

‘Mom, how would you feel if I said—’

“Sweetheart, are you okay?”

I subtly jumped, whipping my head to the right—seeing my mom lower her knitting needles to her lap. “You’ve been pacing for the past fifteen minutes. What’s going on?”

I hesitated.

With a deep breath of confidence and false courage, I turned my entire body to face my mother. I exhaled, dropping my shoulders.

“I’m moving out.”

She froze.

Her brows drew together, and she pushed her glasses to the top of her head. She seemed unfazed.

“How did you find out?”

I blinked.Huh?“Find out what?”

“About the apartment.”

I simply shook my head, and she soon realized that I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.

“Crap. I ruined it, didn’t I?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She placed her knitting needles on the coffee table in front of her and patted the space next to her. I sat down.

“Your father and I have been talking, and we decided that when you were ready to move out, we’d already have an apartment waiting for you.”

“You do?”

She smiled, reaching over to place a gentle hand on top of mine. “Yes. And it’s already furnished. All you need to do is add some personal touches—I can’t wait!”Shit. This is not how this conversation was supposed to go. I can’t move into that apartment.“But—”

“Don’t worry,” she cut me off, a heartwarming smile taking over her face. “Your father and I will take care of everything. All you need to do is move in.”

She gave my hand a reassuring squeeze, and I forced a smile, trying to suppress my panic.

“But I already found a place.”

Her smile wavered. I hated it. “What? Where? How did you find it?”

“Well…” I trailed off, shifting uncomfortably. I chewed my bottom lip, drawing up a blank as I fought to think of something.Anything.

“You’ll just have to trust me.”

She scoffed. “Trust you? Dakota, you’re only twenty-one. You don’t want to move into the apartment your father and I got you, and now you won’t even tell me anything? Sweetheart—”