Only You by Jerry Cole (the top 100 crime novels of all time TXT) 📕

“Duh!” He slapped at his forehead and hurried to his dresser just as the door flew open and his mother stormed on in.

“Oh good, you’re still here.” She breathed a sigh of relief, but then her eyes moved across the room and landed on his bed. There, lay a pile of clothing so high that mountaineers might have considered scaling it. “Bradley! What on earth —”

“I’m getting ready,” Bradley explained without looking. “It’s all clean, don’t worry.” He fished around in his jewelry box until he found exactly what he was looking for. “Got you,” he grinned.

It was a silver chain. That’s all. A simple little silver chain that he’d bought years ago at a second-hand clothing store. It might have cost him five dollars, if that, but he’d worn it so many times that he wouldn’t sell it for the world. And indeed, when Bradley slipped that silver chain over his neck and then turned to check himself out one more time, a sly, satisfied smile spread across his thick lips that could only mean one thing: he was ready.

“You look nice,” his mother offered as Bradley did a little twirl in the mirror. “Seeing Jackson?”

“Of course.” Bradley did a quick look around his bedroom, for no other reason than to see where everything was in case his mother decided to have a snoop later on. She told him she never did, but he wasn’t about to trust her.

“And where will he be taking you tonight?”

“That Italian place, Friggitoria — we’ve never been and I’ve wanted to go for ages.”

“Oh no, carbs,” his mother joked. “Better just have the salad.”

Bradley rolled his eyes and went to step past his mother so as to leave, go to dinner and hopefully not be back until at least tomorrow afternoon. “Don’t wait up.”

As Bradley made for the door, his mother stepped in front of him. “Hold onto your horses.” She threw both arms out and stood in the doorway, blocking the exit like a line-backer. “I braved this cesspit for a reason, you know.”

“It wasn’t to tell me how handsome I look – which you still haven’t, by the way.” He fluttered his eyelashes at his mother sarcastically.

She returned the gesture with a tight-lipped smile. “You’re my baby boy. You always look handsome. But, no. That’s not why I came. I just got off the phone with —”

“Mum, I really need to get going.” Bradley hopped from one foot to the other and eyed the space where his mother stood. For a moment too, he considered just walking right through her... but that idea lasted for about all of one second.

Bradley was a well-built individual. At twenty-five years of age, he was arguably in the best shape of his life. Tall, broad shoulders and a ridiculously muscular torso region were just some of the highlights. Seriously, the number of hours he’d spent in the gym working on it, and then checking out his gains afterward, was criminal. But the flip side to this was that he got his build from his mother. She was over six foot tall, very wide in the back and looked like she’d be able to throw him over her shoulder if she so desired.

“— your bank,” his mother finished as if hadn’t spoken. “I just got off the phone with your bank and I want to talk about your spending.”

Bradley groaned. “Moooooooom. Really?”

“Yes, really.” His mother crossed her arms, but also took a step forward as she did. “I’m worried about you. That money wasn’t meant to just be – hey!” she shouted as Bradley quickly darted around her and out the door. “Get back here!”

“Sorry. Can’t. Love you!” Bradley shouted with a wicked grin as he hurried through his house – or rather, his mother’s house – and outside.

Somehow, and Bradley honestly had no idea how, his mother beat him outside! As he graced the driveway with his presence, he came to a sudden stop at the sight of her leaning against his car, arms crossed, glare rueful. She wasn’t going to be giving up that easy.

“Can we talk about this tomorrow?” Bradley tried as he hit the unlock button on his car keys. It was a nice car too, a 2018 black Lexus that had gotten him laid exactly twice.

“Your grandpa left you that money as a back-up – in case you’d ever need it for something important,” she pleaded.

“That’s what I’ve been spending it on.”

“Clothes? Cars? Jewelry!” she exclaimed. “I think your grandfather was leaning more in the direction of bills, and debts and... and travel! This...” she indicated to the car, still sitting idle. “This is just a waste.”

“Jackson likes it.” Bradley reached the car and popped the door open.

“I bet he does,” his mother said with obvious disdain.

“I’m an adult, mom. I should be able to spend my money on whatever I want.”

“An adult, are you?” she chuckled. “Tell me exactly, how does one turn on the washing machine? Huh?”

Half-way in the car, Bradley balked. He had no idea.

“Or cook... I don’t know, pasta? Or rice!” His mother raised an eyebrow at him, looking very proud of herself. “And I don’t know too many adults that still live in their childhood rooms and have their mother’s make them breakfast every —”

"Do you want me to move out?” Bradley challenged. He knew that this was actually his mother’s biggest nightmare and just the threat would silence any bickering.

“And how do you suppose to do that?” she continued, not seeming at all daunted by the threat. “You don’t have a job – and little money too, now that you’ve blown most of it.”

Bradley’s face dropped. His mother could call him out on his inability to cook. She could call him out on his lack of general knowledge when it came to something