Yeah, fuck that. If constant criticism and wearing down her self-esteem was an expression of love, it was one she could do without. She shouldn’t have to accept people being terrible to her just because they’d given birth to her.

Did she love her parents and wish they were different? Sure. But they weren’t and so she did what she had to do for her own mental health. If Jake didn’t come around to understanding that by the end of this weekend... Well, whatever was growing between them as well as their fuck buddy time would be over.

Sharon’s parents’ house was behind a gate, at the end of a very long driveway surrounded by very manicured lawns and bushes, and it was very, very large. In fact, it was close to being a freaking mansion, glowing a pristine white with green shutters against the immaculate landscaping. The fact that the house’s lawn and garden were so meticulous in winter made it even more impressive. Just beyond the house he could see a hint of the Chesapeake Bay, which meant the view of the bay was probably stunning.

“Holy crap,” Jake muttered under his breath as he felt his palms start to sweat.

Somehow, up until this point, he’d convinced himself that meeting Sharon’s parents wasn’t that big a deal. Surely not a bigger deal than her meeting his last weekend, which had turned out to be not that big of a deal at all. He’d show up as her friend and date, charm her parents, and then show her a good time over the weekend. Her nerves hadn’t infected him at all.

Now, though...

Just like with Sharon’s apartment, it was one thing to know she was well-off, another to see it. ‘Well off’ didn’t begin to describe it. He’d gotten used to her apartment because he was over there often enough, and she made it homey. It didn’t hurt that she was a little messy too.

This was an entirely different ball game.

“Wow... You could play a seriously epic game of hide-and-seek in this house,” he joked, trying to lighten the mood. Sharon had begun the ride singing and dancing along in her seat when certain songs came on the radio, but as soon as they’d crossed the Bay Bridge she’d become more and more subdued.

“Sure.” She didn’t look at him as she made the terse response, just stared up at the house like it was impending doom closing in on her.

“You never did with your cousins?” he asked curiously. From the little she had divulged about her family, she had a pretty good relationship with the cousin that was getting married this weekend. Hide and seek in a mansion seemed exactly the kind of thing she would do.

Sharon snorted. “Only if we wanted to be in a hell of a lot of trouble.”