Page 38 of Unhinged Cain

“Easy to get the gold star when your mother is the agent in charge,” he mumbled to the student beside him. “Maybe, if I started fucking her or her mother, I’d get a gold star too. I’m not picky. I’d take either, Lawson.”

The two guys laughed quietly while I memorized their faces. No one insulted Kirby without it also insulting me. She may only be mine for a day, a week, or a month, but it didn’t matter the length of time until I released her, and she became the photograph on the screen. Kirby was mine. People didn’t mess with what was mine.

“Very good. Does anyone else have anything to add,” Margaret prompted, and I went back to barely paying attention to what was being said and focused my energy on Kirby’s body language in her natural environment. She didn’t lean toward or speak to any student near her. Kirby’s eyes would glaze over as she stared at my art on the screen, and even how she shifted uncomfortably in her chair told me about of who she was, what she liked, and what she was trying to hide.

She was a threat.

She was probably the only real threat in the room aside from her mother, and yet all I could think about was how she tasted like a sweet plum on my lips and how I planned on claiming that pussy of hers again.

Maybe even tonight.

KIRBY

I couldn’t believe how nervous I was to have a conversation with my mother. My palms were sweating as I stood in her office, waiting for her. My dad loved the idea of me coming to visit him, but he said I needed to finish school first or take what I could from the classes to bring with me before leaving.

By some small miracle, I’d managed to get a sit-down meeting with a counselor to find out my best options for taking classes online. Mind you, it took a whole lot of ‘tap dancing’ to get it done. I hadn’t realized I was such a good liar until the tears began pouring down my cheeks as I blurted out the sob story of my dad being sick and needing my help and my mother being too proud to ask for yet another favor for me. Apparently, it was good enough to grant me a three-week leave as long as I kept up with all my studies online.

“Sorry to keep you. Did you want to get some dinner?” My mother said as she stepped into her office. “I still have work to do tonight, but maybe you can tell me what is going on with Peter? He keeps texting me, asking me to ask you to get in touch with him.”

I rolled my eyes as I peeled them away from a picture of my mother and the Director of the FBI shaking hands as she received an award.

“Of course, he texted you.”

“He wouldn’t have to if you bothered to answer his calls,” my mother scolded as she sat down at her desk.

My jaw began to hurt as I clenched my teeth together to keep from swearing. Having a complete meltdown in her office was not a good idea. Did she even realize how controlling she was or how insulting she was about everything?

“It’s only been a day. I just saw him yesterday, and I had school today, and now here I am. Not that it should be any of your business. I don’t get why he’s always running to you anyway.” I put my hands on my hips. “I didn’t realize that there were three people in my relationship.” I conveniently left out the part where I told him we were done. That would’ve ended up in a massive argument, and I could only handle one fight with my mother at a time.

“Kirby, why do you always have to make everything so dramatic? He reached out because he was concerned and couldn’t get in touch with you. It’s called being a good boyfriend,” she said as she picked up her pen and flipped open a folder. So much for going to dinner.

“Trust me, Peter plays the part well, but he’s not as great as he seems.”

She cocked a perfectly manicured brow at me, and I waved my hand in the air, trying to stop the crazy train that was this conversation before we ended up in an argument.

“Whatever. Talk to him, don’t talk to him. I don’t care.”

“Well, now that is mighty big of you, Kirby,” she said sarcastically and then looked up at me. “Considering we’re all adults, and I know Peter is hoping to marry you, that would mean we’d see and speak on a regular basis.”

She laid her hands on the desk as if questioning someone in an interrogation. It was a major pet peeve of mine when she did this to me. It was like no emotion was allowed to exist between us unless it was the emotion she thought was appropriate. She was the ultimate Ice Queen, and I was the spawn she got pregnant with by accident. I’d never lived up to her expectations since.

“You do know that marrying him would be what’s best, don’t you? I mean, he comes from a very influential family with enough money to ensure that if you decided to do your painting, you could. You should be happy that someone of his pedigree even looks your way.”

My mouth fell open. “Who the hell do you think you are giving me advice on my relationship when you don’t even know who my father is?”

“Excuse me?”

This was not why I was here. I had to remind myself before an entire volcano erupted in the office.

“Look, you can forget about marriage. I highly doubt that is going to happen,” I said and crossed my arms over my chest before I leaped across the desk. “I didn’t come here to talk to you about Peter. I was coming to tell you that I’m going to go and visit Dad for three weeks, and I’ve already made arrangements to keep up with classes virtually until I get back.”

It was like all the air was sucked out of the room. My mother’s eyes bugged out of her head while she turned an angry shade of tomato red. Leaning back in her chair, she gripped the edge of the desk with her hands until her knuckles turned white.

“What did you just say,” she asked, her voice low as her eyes narrowed into thin slits.

“Now, who’s the one being dramatic? It’s not like I’m going forever. As you are already are aware, all my grades are ninety-five and higher. Regardless if you think I’m applying myself or not, I am a top student.”

My mother shot out of her chair so fast that I took a step back in shock. “No, I’m not allowing it. I’ll speak to someone tomorrow and get this straightened out.”