Page 70 of Power Play

“I wasn’t worried.”

My mother lifted one eyebrow.

I smiled faintly. “I was a little worried.”

“You were miserable.”

“I’m doing better now.”

“Good.” Her hand reached across the table and covered mine. “You put far too much pressure on yourself.”

The irony pressed behind my ribs, though nothing about her expression suggested she heard it.

“I’m actually looking forward to Klein now.”

Crystal looked genuinely pleased. “Really?”

“I think so.”

“That’s wonderful. She has such an impressive reputation.”

“She’s terrifying.”

“You respond well to demanding people.”

Ryan flashed through my mind immediately, standing across my kitchen table while telling me my argument was lazy and making me defend it until I stopped trying to please him.

“I’m starting to.”

Crystal studied me for a moment. “You seem happier.”

The observation caught me off guard.

“I do?”

“Yes.” She tilted her head slightly. “You’re less wound up lately.”

I reached for my tea. “Maybe I’m finally enjoying summer.”

“That’s exactly what I wanted.”

The sincerity in her voice made resentment impossible to hold cleanly.

My mother wanted me happy. She also seemed to have a very specific picture of what happiness should look like once I achieved it.

Her phone lit beside her plate. She silenced it after checking the name.

“Your cousin has turned this cotillion into a military operation.”

“Which cousin?”

“Elaine.”

“That narrows the Harlens down beautifully.”

Crystal laughed softly. “Your father’s cousin Elaine. Caroline’s mother.”

“Oh, Caroline.”