Fighting Temptation Read Online Free PDF

out of her. For harassing her when she was home for Christmas. Oh, and I just really don’t fucking like you.”
    “Don’t tell me you believe that shit, too? She told everyone that damn lie. She’s just like her mom, a lying cunt.”
    Before I realize what I’m doing, I have him by the throat against the wall. I punch him repeatedly. “You son of a bitch. She wasn’t lying. I saw the fucking bruises, and if you ever say she’s like her mother again, I will kill you.”
    My friends grab at me, trying to pull me loose. Shana comes over and yells, “CADE!” I spin around. “Look, just go, or I have to call the cops.”
    I nod and walk out of the pool hall. Making my way home, I realize it’s only eight o’clock. Good. Mom and I can spend some time together before I head back to school. She works a lot and I haven’t gotten to spend much time with her this summer.
    I walk into the house and make my way to the kitchen to grab some water. As I round the corner to the kitchen, I get an eyeful. “Oh shit!”
I turn to get back out of the kitchen and trip over the table leg. I smack my face on a chair on the way down.
    My mom screams and comes running over to me. “Honey, are you okay?” she asks, all calm and natural about what I walked in on.
“Mom. Shit, get some clothes on. I’ll talk to you in the living room.”
I sit in the living room, shaking my head and trying to un-see what I just saw.
    A few minutes later, my mom and Richard make their way into the living room, fully clothed. Thank God! They sit down on the sofa across from me, looking like two high school kids who just got caught by their parents.
I look at my mom. “How long has this been going on?”
“A few months.”
    “And you didn’t think you should tell me? I don’t know. Maybe before I walked in on you and my best friend’s dad banging on the kitchen floor?”
My mom laughs; she actually laughs. “Honey, I’m sorry, but we didn’t think you’d be home until later.” “Holy shit, Mom. That’s not even the point I’m trying to make here.”
    Richard clears his throat. “Cade, after everything that happened during and after Christmas last year, your mother and I just starting talking to each other. Then, after Gabby’s wedding, we started dating.”
Something dawns on me. “Do Gabby and Anna know that you guys are seeing each other?”
    My mom rolls her eyes. “You’ve been here all summer almost and didn’t know we were seeing each other. What do you think?”
    “Why didn’t you guys just come out and tell us? I think we would all be okay with it. I’m just not okay with walking in on what I did.”
    Richard speaks up. “For several reasons. Your mom and I wanted to make sure it was going to work for us, before we dragged you kids into the mix. You may all be adults now, but you’re adults who’ve had your plates full of surprises and bullshit over the past year. Before we brought any more drama to the table, we thought it best if we knew how we felt first.”
“And? How do you feel?”
    My mom smiles. “We’re happy. We enjoy each other’s company. I’ve always loved Gabby and Anna like my own kids. Richard’s always felt that way about you.”
    Richard ta kes my mom’s hand. “We love each other, Cade. We don’t plan on getting married tomorrow or anything, but we’re in a serious committed relationship with each other.”
I nod. “When any of us are in town, try to keep the nakedness in the bedroom of one of the houses. Okay?”
    They laugh and my mom smiles looking at me. “Cade, I’m happy. I’m the happiest I’ve been in years. We were planning on telling the girls at the baby shower, but I think we’ll go ahead and call them tonight.”
Suddenly we hear a knock at the door. My mom jumps up to answer it.
“Ma’am, I’m from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and I need to speak with Cade Johnson.”
    I step over to the door. “Yes, sir. That’s me.” “Son, I’m going to have to ask