Dane's POV
The knock on Hailee's window snapped both of us out of the tense moment. She startled, her head jerking toward the sound. I frowned, leaning slightly to see who it was.
Her mother.
She stood there in a fitted coat, arms crossed, her eyes sharp enough to cut glass. Even through the glass, I could feel the weight of her stare.
Hailee quickly rolled the window down halfway. "Mom—"
"Get out of the car, Hailee," her mother said, her voice calm but laced with steel. "Now."
Hailee hesitated, glancing at me for a split second like she was looking for backup. I could already tell this wasn't going to be a friendly chat.
I leaned slightly toward the open window. "Ma'am, we were just—"
"I didn't ask you, Dane." Her words were clipped, her eyes flicking to me for barely a second before settling back on her daughter. "I'm speaking to Hailee."
Hailee pressed her lips together and unbuckled her seatbelt. "Mom, it's not what it looks like—"
