“What’d your folks think of your exes?” Aidy asked me. “Did they try to warn you that you were makin’ a mistake before y’all tied the knot?”
“Again,” Charli said, throwing her hands up in the air. “None of your business.”
She looked at me helplessly, mouthing “I’m sorry” as her cheeks turned pink.
This girl was too cute, and must have spent half her life apologizing for her outrageous mama, but in my business, I was so used to people blowing smoke up my ass and kissing up that a woman like Aidy, who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, was a refreshing change.
“They did,” I said, thinking of a conversation I’d had with my old man a week before I’d proposed for the last time. We’d been having dinner at my parents’ place and my ex pulled up a pic on her phone of the engagement ring she wanted. My folks shared a worried glance and I knew I’d be getting an earful before I went home.
They’d been right. I was dead wrong. But back then I’d still been holding on to that dream of a family and that blinded me to her faults.
“But I guess I just wanted to be loved.” I didn’t realize I’d said that out loud until I heard Charli’s intake of breath and her eyes collided with mine.
“Aww, hon,” Aidy said, patting my arm. “That’s what everyone wants. You’re no different. You just happen to have a few bucks in the bank and that makes you a target for these greedy little witches who believe money can buy happiness.” She smiled, raising her hand. “Don’t get me wrong now, not a damn thing wrong with money. I love that my daughter married a man who can take care of her, but I would have been the first one readin’ Cece the riot act if I thought for a second she was marryin’ Knox for the wrong reasons.”
She snorted. “Course I didn’t have to worry ‘bout that. My girls couldn’t give two hoots about money. Cece’d sing for free and this one,” she said, pointing at Charli, “Probably would too, if she didn’t have to worry about supporting herself.”
“Would you?” I asked Charli softly. “If you didn’t have to worry about money, would you want to make music? Perform?”
She looked away before muttering, “Sure, that’d be my dream, but not everyone can live the dream, can they?”
Most people would say I was living the dream, but they didn’t see me rattling around this big, empty house alone. Money could buy companionship, fake friends, decent company, but it sure as hell couldn’t buy your soul mate.
“You’re young, Charli,” Aidy said. “Got your whole life ahead of you. And now you’re livin’ here, makin’ friends with people like Dade, who knows what might happen?”
Charli shook her head, looking flabbergasted. “I’m not making friends with Dade because I think he can help me with my career. In fact, we’re not friends at all. He’s my boss, nothing more.”
Damn. That hurt more than it should have. Technically, she was right, but after last night I’d hoped we’d crossed that casual acquaintance boundary into something more.
“I don’t believe you,” Aidy said, reaching for her tea. “I don’t care what you say.” She pointed from me to Charli. “There’s somethin’ between y’all. You can’t tell me nothin’ happened after the wedding. I know you were still there after we left.”
Charli opened her mouth then snapped it shut, looking at me like she was hoping I could save her. But I was so stunned that Aidy had actually called us out I was speechless too.
Aidy looked from me to her daughter to me slowly before a smile lit up her face. “Well, I’ll be damned. Y’all slept together, didn’t ya?”
Charli dropped her face in her hands, screaming quietly in frustration.
When it was obvious we weren’t gonna convince her otherwise, I said, “Aidy, we’d uh, kinda like to keep this under wraps. I don’t want my friends in the press harassing Charli and that’s exactly what’s gonna happen if they think she and I are a thing.”
“Of course,” she said, setting her cup down as she nodded vigorously. “You’re right to play it safe. You don’t need strangers gettin’ all up in your business—”
“No,” Charli said, peeking at her mother through her hands. “We have you for that.”
“I don’t know why you’re actin’ like you got caught with your hand in the cookie jar,” Aidy said, rolling her eyes. “So, you had sex. You’re both single. Why the hell shouldn’t ya be havin’ fun?”
“For the love of God,” Charli said, ignoring her endorsement. “Do not tell Daddy about this. He’s supposed to avoid stress, remember?”
“I know, I know.” She waved her hand. “He’s so overprotective of you girls. He’s gonna have to accept the fact that you’re a grown woman and can sleep with anyone you want.” She gave me a sly look before she said, “And I for one, am glad your taste just got a hell of a lot better.”
Charli palmed her forehead. “Mama, sometimes I have no words.”
I laughed as Aidy stood, reaching for my hand. When I stood, she linked her arm through mine. “Now Dade, you listen here,” she said, walkingmeto the door. “I’m trustin’ you to take good care of my baby now.”
“Please,” Charli groaned. “Just stop.”
“You hush,” she said, over her shoulder.
“Aidy,” I said, smirking. “I can assure you as long as she’s staying here with me Charli will be safe.”
