Page 114 of I Choose You

She slanted her brows and shot me a stern look of worry.

“No, not physical harm. But I became obsessed with staying in control of my looks. It became an addiction. I’m terrified of my own reflection.” I lifted my arms toward her. “My tattoos aren’t just reminders for me, Mom. They’re not visual reminders of the things I’ve overcome. It’s also camouflage.”

“Oh, honey,” she said.

I swallowed again, struggling. Between all that talking and then the threat of crying, my mouth was dry and my throat felt raw. “Can I have that beer now?”

She sighed and stood. “I’ll make us tea. Tell me more, honey.”

I followed her into the kitchen and did just that. With her gentle patience and open ears, she listened to me describe my struggles.

She didn’t argue a single thing I said. Like the best mother in the world, she listened to me until I was worn ragged and exhausted.

“Why don’t you stay the night, honey?” She rubbed my shoulder as I laid my head on my arms on the table. “Call off tomorrow. Todd will understand.”

She guided me from the table to the couch. “You never take sick days, and you’re entitled to one. A mental health day.”

I felt like I’d need a mental health week or two.

Unleashing my burdens on her had taken a toll on me. I smiled and nodded as I sat. “Thanks, Mom. That sounds like a good idea.”

“Everyone needs a break sometimes.”

I snorted. “And today was definitely a long, hard day.”

“I imagine. Especially having to see Kaden, too.”

“Very. The way he spoke about his mom just broke my heart, too.”

“I remember when she passed. It was such a tragedy to lose her.” She left me yawning on the couch as she went to the hall and grabbed a spare blanket and pillow.

“And I’m sure he’ll come around. It all just feels raw right now,” she mused, opening the blanket and flapping it to unfold it. “Maybe a little space will help. A step back to think about it all, and when you see him next, both of you will have had time to let the hard feelings settle into place.”

I won’t hold my breath. If he kept up that coldness, that distance, I wasn’t sure I could be a good enough actress to convince anyone he was my date.

“You’re a smart, resilient woman, Brooke. And this too will pass,” she said and tapped the tattoo on her wrist.

I lay back, more than ready to close my eyes. “I love you,” I told her.

She leaned down and kissed my forehead. “I love you, too.”

As I closed my eyes, I considered her advice and hoped she was right.

39

KADEN

Thank you for reaching out to me. I am out of the office, but should you need immediate assistance, please contact Ms. Sandra Pellen.

I frowned, once again looking at the notification that showed in the email. The wi-fi had been restored early this morning, but it must have redirected a route to the Twilight Zone.

Brooke was out of the office?

Why? What’s wrong?

It had bothered me all day.

She was a workaholic, and her drive to go, go, go almost rivaled mine. Something big had to have happened for her to take a spontaneous day off. That auto out-of-office reply bounced into my inbox when I sent her a file—actually attaching it—first thing in the morning.