The Billionaire's Mistress Complete Series: Alpha Billionaire Romance Read Online Free PDF Page B

bothered him. Since I’d engaged with the bullies, I ended up getting a twenty-minute lecture that made me wish I'd really done something worth it.
    Naturally, neither of them were mad at me. They were just concerned that this might result in the bullies further antagonizing TJ.
    I disagreed. When they had to turn tail and run from a girl, it'd taken some the wind out of their sails, given TJ a little more confidence. But I didn't say any of that. What the hell did I know about raising a teenager? I had been one only a few years ago.
    Since nothing they said would change my opinion and nothing I said would change theirs, there was no point in arguing. Not even if I was getting taken to task like I was fourteen years old and they’d caught me sneaking out the window of my bedroom, but still…
    When they finally finished, I headed up to my room. Halfway up the stairs, the house phone started to ring. I’d hesitated for a minute before continuing on up to my room. The light would flash if it was a TTY call. If it was for me, they could call my cell phone.
    I just didn't feel like talking to anyone else today, and I knew that's what would happen if I answered that call. After all, my parents couldn’t hear who was on the regular phone, and I would have to explain that to a stranger, and I was just tired of doing it. Sometimes, I felt like I was suffocating.
    Once inside my room, I fell face first down on the bed, arms spread out. I was itchy under my shirt. I should have gone straight into the shower to get off all the stray hair that managed to work its way into my clothes, but I was too tired to move.
    There was a knock at my door, and a second later, it opened. That one knock was all the warning I’d get since I hadn’t remembered to lock it. That'd always been the way with my mom and me. Flopping onto my back, I opened one eye. Mom stood there, studying me.
    “Are you okay?”
    I smiled back at her. “ I’m fine.” Unlike Tyson and TJ, Mom had lost her hearing gradually, but since marrying Tyson, she'd stopped speaking out loud to me and only signed.
    “Really?”
    I sighed. “ I had a long day, Mom. I just want to have some time to myself, some time to relax.”
    There was no response at first, then she finally nodded and asked if she could come in. With a shrug, I nodded and patted my bed.
    “We appreciate what you’re doing for TJ. You know that, don’t you?”
    “Of course I do. He’s my little brother, and I love him. It pisses me off that some boys are teasing him.”
    Now guilt chewed at me. She thought I was sulking over walking my little brother to school. It had nothing to do with TJ. But how could I explain to my mother that I was just…the thought withered away and died before I finished forming it. Again, guilt. I didn't blame my family for any of my choices. They'd never pressured me into anything. I was good at doing that to myself.
    Mom looked like she wanted to say more, but there was a reluctance to her features.
    “Spill it, Mom.”
    She laughed softly. The sound managed to bring a smile to my lips, reminding me of the times when we'd still talked to each other. I missed hearing her voice. Once she and Tyson had started dating, she'd found a world where she felt more comfortable. I didn't blame her for that.
    I knew what it felt like to not fit in, so I couldn't begrudge her that.
    Guilt seemed to chase after me these days.
    Averting my gaze, I focused on a framed print of the river at night. Mom moved to sit by me, brushing my hair back.
    “I love you,” she said, her voice soft. It was as if she’d known I needed to hear her voice. That voice, still so beautiful after all these years.
    “I love you too.” I didn’t sign it this time. She could read lips, and she’d know what I said anyway. Leaning in, I hugged her.
    She left a moment later and this time, I locked the door. I told myself I was going to shower and maybe read. Something. Anything to get out of my head. As I reached