Page 81 of Sterling Fight

“You have nothing to apologize for,” he says a bit too gruffly, pointing toward the double door entrance and adding, “That was total bullshit.”

I agree. My mother. Heather. Even Tate Haven.

“Genie,” Judd sighs, still holding my shoulders. “You are fucking amazing. I’m spellbound by your goodness, and I know you want to believe because she’s your mother you owe her something, but that is not how a parent should speak to her adult child. I know.” He jabs at his chest. “It’s not acceptable.”

I squint up at Judd. “She doesn’t respect me.” It’s the first time I’ve ever voiced the words aloud. Admitted them out loud. “I’m an accomplished woman and I think she . . . resents me.”

I’ve done more than my mother ever will and admitting she might be jealous feels like I’m being egotistical. But then I remember she does have reason to resent me, and I’m not ready to face that truth today. Not after what just happened in Evergreen Terrace.

Judd nods. “Exactly. She should be proud of you, not demeaning you.” His gaze roams down my dress. The same green one with polka dots I wore the first time I met his family. “You radiate. Fucking brighter than the brightest firefly.”

I chuckle weakly, knowing that still isn’t very bright but Judd’s meaning is well-intended. He thinks I glow.

“What was all that with Tate?” I ask as the Ford Shelby is brought to where we wait.

Judd sighs. “Let’s get in the car and then I’ll talk.” Judd reaches for the passenger side door handle before the valet can assist me and he waits until I’m seated before closing the door. He tips the valet as they cross paths, and then he enters the car. With a rev of the engine, Judd pulls forward as if he can’t get us out of the parking lot and away from Evergreen Terrace fast enough.

“Tate,” Judd groans. “Such a man child, but once upon a time, Stone and Cortland Haven were best friends. So were our mothers. Stone and Cort grew up together. Were high school football superstars. Went to the same college. And both were NFL hopefuls.”

Judd releases a huge breath. “Then our dad died.” He turns his head, wiggling his brows. “And there was a girl.”

I laugh, intrigued. “There’s always a girl.”

But Judd’s face sobers. “Without going into all the dirty details, Stone and Cortland were no longer friends. The riff divided the families. Sebastian and the youngest Haven, Clint, decided not to speak to each other, choosing loyalty to their brothers over their friendship. However, Tate and I were never friends.” Judd stares out the windshield a moment, reflective. “Taunts and jabs in middle school, when the mean years really kicked in. An unkind word here. A poke there. Minor moments to some that added up to years and years of torment for me.”

“Judd.” I reach for his forearm. “I’m so sorry that happened to you.” As if his younger years weren’t bad enough, throw in a family friend’s son being a bully, and the layers just build.

“I tried to tell Stone what was going on when I was around thirteen or fourteen years, but he told me to ignore Tate. Said Tate struggled being in the shadow of his older, more successful brother. Stone wanted me to offer compassion when what I really wanted was to throat punch Tate. I never brought up our strained situation again.”

Strained situation was a nice way of saying Judd was bullied.

Judd has held a lot inside over the years and this example adds another brick to the wall of reasons he fights. He has so much to let out and hasn’t had an outlet for it. The toxicity. The negativity.

“Think Tate knew he was getting engaged to Heather?”

Judd’s chuckle is bitter and raw. “He absolutely did not get that message in whatever scheme they were planning.”

I watch as he loosens his hand on the steering wheel and then grips it once more. “Are you upset?”

“I’m fucking livid. If I ever hear your mom⁠—”

“Not about my mom.” Although, I appreciate his avid insistence and irritation. “About Heather. She all but admitted she’d been with Tate before you two separated.”

Judd twists his lips. “Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me. I thought we were exclusive but one day Heather said to me, if I wanted exclusivity, I should put a ring on her, and I think that’s when it really hit me that we weren’t meant for one another.”

Judd reaches over the gear shift and takes my hand in his. His thumb finds his mother’s ring, flicking over it like he does. “You are meant for me, firefly. And I know that scares you a bit, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes. I’ll wait until we’re on the same lined page with unicorns. Patience is one of my best virtues.” He grins wide, exposes his white teeth, like that will lessen the wham of what he said.

He’ll wait for me? “I’m supposed to go home tomorrow.”

Judd’s head turns so quickly I’m afraid the car will shift as well. His expression suggests he’d forgotten. Our ten days are almost up, and while I’d like to complain the trip was a bust from my original intention, this visit has turned out to be so much more than I’d expected.

Judd’s shoulders lower and his hand loosens on the steering wheel again, fingers flexing before he regrips the control. He doesn’t respond to what I’ve said.

For some reason, I don’t want us to be alone yet. Today should be about family. “We should go to Stone’s.”

“What? Why?” Judd asks, glancing briefly at me again before returning his attention to the road.

“Because it’s Sylver Sunday. And it is Mother’s Day,” I soften my voice. “Do it for your mom, Judd. Because she’d want you to be with them.”