“I’d like an explanation,” Macy said, startling them both.
Hannah, red cups in each hand, turned to face her. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes red from crying. “I didn’t mean for this to happen, I swear. I invited a few friends over. Actually two. Okay four. But two of them thought it would be cool to announce a party at Jaxon Prescott’s house on their pages.”
She spoke fast, obviously trying to get all the information out at once. “And the next thing I knew, people were pouring into the house. I was freaking out the whole time, I swear. I tried to clean up as things went along, but everything got out of hand.” She tossed the cups from her hand into a large green garbage bag and started to cry.
Before Macy could get to her, Lilah stepped over and wrapped an arm around her daughter. “When things got out of control, Hannah called her mother. Because she knows she can trust me. I came over to help her clean up the mess the kids left.” She looked around the room before settling her gaze on Macy. “And it’s a good thing I did, because the police showed up soon after, and they had to ask permission to come inside. I said no. So they gave me a warning to get the kids out of the house and not to have an underage party again.” She wiped her hands as if she’d handled the problem to everyone’s satisfaction.
Which she seemed to have done. But it didn’t make sense that Lilah knew she could refuse to let the police enter. Macy hadn’t known that. In fact, faced with a police officer, she’d probably do whatever they asked. This situation aside, Macy just didn’t trust Lilah.
Macy narrowed her gaze. “You’re saying that you looked out for us.”
Lilah shook her head. “I looked out for Hannah and, by extension, both of you. The only way police can constitutionally enter a house are with a warrant, consent, or exigent circumstances. I denied consent,” she said, sounding proud of herself.
How did Lilah know these things? Macy tucked the question away for a later time. Lilah’s actions didn’t help Jaxon with his team, but they did prevent a bigger scandal and problems with the law, all of which begged the question, why? She could have gained even more of a custodial upper hand by letting the police inside.
“I suppose I should say thank you?” Macy asked.
“Not so fast.” Jaxon glanced at Hannah. “You, Macy, and I will talk later, but can you give the three of us a few minutes?” He tipped his head toward the bedrooms, indicating Hannah should go to her room.
“Umm, yeah.” She took the opportunity to leave and quickly darted out.
Confused and curious, Macy glanced at Jaxon. “What’s going on?”
He looked at Lilah, the picture of innocence in a pair of jeans and a loose, flowing top, casual without makeup, like her daughter had called her and she’d rushed out to help her.
“How did the police know to come by? We have no neighbors the kids’ noise would be bothering.” He owned such a large parcel of land, they couldn’t see his neighbors, Macy realized.
“And better yet, how did the paparazzi know there was a party at my house? Because I doubt they were following social media pages of kids in high school.” Jaxon pinned her with a knowing glare.
Although there was a damned good chance the paps were hanging out by his house, waiting for something like the morning she’d left doing the walk of shame, Macy assumed this was Jaxon’s way of pushing Lilah into an admission.
“I’m sure the paparazzi follow police scanners,” Lilah said, not meeting Jaxon’s gaze.
And the wheels in Macy’s head began to turn. About Lilah and how she could use this situation to her advantage yet still look like the more caring parent.
“Hannah called you because you’re the good friend in her eyes, not a parent teaching her right from wrong,” Macy said, laying things out. “You helped her clean up and sweep away her problem, and now she’s grateful to you. Maybe she even wants to live with you.” Her stomach churned at that thought and reminder that her sister had once said that she preferred Lilah to Macy.
“Of course I did those things. I want to do whatever I can for my daughter.”
Jaxon folded his arms across his chest. “And after she called, I’ll bet you did a quick Google search. Looked up the law on open house parties. After which you called the cops, probably anonymously,” he said. “And then you called the paparazzi. So now Macy and I look bad. Less fit guardians than you. And if you think I can’t hire the right people to find out if you made those calls, think again.”
The satisfied gleam in Lilah’s gaze was all Macy needed. “You bitch.” Macy started toward her, but Jaxon grabbed before she could lunge at the other woman. Not that Macy knew what she’d have done. Just that the anger and hurt flowing through her were out of control.
She drew a deep breath and calmed herself down. “Get out. Until our court hearing next week, don’t ask to see Hannah. The answer is no.”
“Come. I’ll walk you out.” Striding over, Jaxon took Lilah’s elbow, and she immediately shook him off.
Macy lowered herself onto the sofa, leaned back against the cushions, and groaned, waiting for Jaxon to return, hearing Lilah’s complaints and threats as he escorted her to the door.
A few seconds later, he returned to the room. “She’s gone,” he said softly, walking to where she sat and settled in beside her.
“I’m sorry,” she said again and he shook his head.
“Stop. There’s no reason to apologize. Hannah is a teenager and this is pretty normal behavior as far as that goes.”
She slid her fingers over the material on
