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“So? Have you?” she asked, staring pointedly at me.

Allyson began to rummage through her purse under the pretense of looking for something, while Frank made a loud show of clearing his throat.

“Um, I’m going to check the car to see if there are any more bags,” he announced. Moving quickly to the door, Frank made fast work of slipping his shoes on, and out he went.

Thanks for the support.

I knew there would be no putting this off. I had barely been home for five minutes, but my mother’s radar was already honed in.

“I am talking to someone, but it’s nothing serious,” I admitted.

“Krys, you barely just broke up with Trevor. You don’t need the distraction of another guy right now. You should be focusing on building a career.”

I closed my eyes and tried to count to ten. Just once, I would like to have a normal mother-daughter visit, one where I didn’t have to face a lecture or jump on the defense about my personal business. From the way my mother acted, you’d never know I was a recent college graduate. She still treated me like I was in grade school.

“Actually, it’s been two years since Trevor. And for your information, I found a job. It’s a good one, too. I start on Monday,” I said proudly.

“I’m glad about that, but it’s even more of a reason why you shouldn’t be wasting your time on dating. You should be directing your attention to getting ahead in life.”

I should have known she’d focus on the guy thing rather than be happy I’d landed the job she had been hounding me about. I pursed my lips in annoyance.

“I’m sure I can manage to juggle both a career and a relationship,” I said dryly. It was a good thing she didn’t know my new boss was the relationship.

“Krys, I wish you would just take my advice for once. It’s like I’ve always said, you should wait to—” she started, but I interrupted her.

“Yeah, yeah. I know. I should wait until I’m established in a career before I think about getting serious with anyone. I know your stance on the matter, Mom.”

Allyson, knowing the situation was starting to spin out of control, decided to speak up.

“Mrs. Long, would you like something to drink? Why don’t you sit down and relax for a bit? I’m sure you’ve had a tiring day, with the drive and full day of shopping and all.”

“I’m fine, dear. But thank you,” my mother said, dismissively. Then without skipping a beat, she came at me again. “Krys, I just don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did.”

“Mom, I’m not you,” I said in a warning tone.

“I know that, and I’m not comparing. I’m talking in general here. Too often, women rely on men for support, only to be left high and dry when things don’t work out. I don’t want that for you.”

“It won’t be,” I said through gritted teeth.

“How can you be so sure? You never know if⁠—”

“I know because I refuse to spend my life dwelling on the what-ifs!” I lashed out. “I refuse to walk around bitter at the world for things out of my control. I don’t want to grow old only to look back and see I spent my life being a spiteful and untrusting human being! I can’t hate a person strictly because they have a penis! That’s who you are, and I don’t want to be like you. I want to be happy!”

Her head jerked back as if I’d slapped her. I watched all the color visibly drain from her face.

“I have a good life, Krystina Lynne,” she said quietly, using the middle name she typically reserved for times when she was truly angry. Or hurt. Her eyes began to glisten with tears. “I gave you a good life. I don’t want you ever to forget where you came from.”

Seeing her tears made me instantly regret losing my temper. I was in a foul mood because of the recent shock about Alexander and the confusion I had surrounding our relationship. She didn’t deserve me taking it out on her.

She just made it so hard.

She was constantly on my case, riding me about one thing after another. We’d had more arguments than I could count in the past, but this was the first time I truly spoke back. I knew this day would eventually come, and I thought I would feel better for it. Instead, I felt terrible.

“Look, Mom—” I stopped short when a knock at the door sounded, and I could hear Frank calling from the other side to be let in.

“I’ll get it,” Allyson offered.

However, when Allyson opened the door, Frank wasn’t alone. Alexander was standing there with him.