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I gritted my teeth. “Briarismy nanny.”
“Really, King? Your nanny?” Nix frowned and shook his head. “I’m so disappointed in you.”
“Fuck you.” I prowled toward my brother with my fists clenched. Now that Briar was gone, my filter had left with her. “What the hell do you even think you’re doing? You barge in like you live here and you bringher? Really, Nix?”
Nix lifted his arm from Mom’s shoulders and held his palms up like he was just an innocent bystander. “I just thought—”
“No, you didn’t. You didn’t think for a second about what I wanted or what I thought. You just bulldozed your way through, per usual. Doing whatever you want without a thought about anyone else. So fucking typical.”
“How long are you going to punish her, King?” A muscle flexed in Nix’s jaw. “She lost a daughter-in-law, and she wasn’t invited to the wedding or the funeral. She’s got a grandchild she’s never even met. That’s fucking bananas, bro.”
“That’s what you fucking get when you sell me out. A primo spot on my shit list.” My eyes ran up and down my brother and my lip curled. “And you’re inching your way onto it yourself,bro.”
“Seriously, King?” Nix shook his head in disappointment, only this time it appeared genuine. “Are you going to keep holding grudges and pushing people away until you have no one left? You did it with Mom. You did it with Ariel. You’re starting it with me. Who’s next? Your new girlfriend—what’s her name? How about Rome? Has he pissed you off recently?”
“You don’t know shit about my marriage. That’ll be the last time I hear her name in your mouth.” I glared at my brother. “And I don’t have a problem with Rome, because unlike you,he respects my boundaries. He calls before he shows up, and he doesn’t try to play happy families. He’s definitely never surprised me with an estranged reunion.”
Mom gasped from behind Nix. “He didn’t know I was coming? Nix! You didn’t tell him? You told me he was okay with me visiting!”
“I did what he should’ve done years ago.” Nix hitched a shoulder as an uncomfortable expression stole over his face. “It’s insane that he’s still punishing you for that interview. Rome forgave you, why can’t King?”
Mom came around Nix, arms crossed over her chest, and gave him her disappointed mom glare. The one I’d been on the receiving end of so often in our childhood. “That’s for Kingston to decide. You can’t make someone get over a betrayal. Forgiveness doesn’t work on a timeline. And you sure as hell don’t get to decide how and when Kingston allows me back into his life.” Mom glowered at Nix until he finally hung his head and stepped aside. She turned her attention to me. “Kingston, I’m so sorry. I thought… It doesn’t matter what I thought. I should’ve talked to you before coming all this way. I’ll be leaving now. And taking your brother with me. Again, I’m so sorry.”
Shaking her head, Mom turned back, and whatever expression she made at Nix had him hunching his shoulders. “Sorry, Ma.”
Both of them walked toward the front door.
I was shocked by my mom’s complete humility. She could’ve begged and pleaded to see her granddaughter, railed against my stubbornness, and demanded the same rights Ariel’s family were trying to force me into.
But she didn’t.
She’d apologized for showing up, and she was going to leave. Without even seeing her granddaughter.
Damn.
Maybe Nix was right. She definitely wasn’t the same person who sold me out to the tabloids so many years ago.
“Mom? Wait.”
She turned to face me, and her eyes were shining. She was barely holding her tears back.
“Nix was right. It shouldn’t have taken me so long to talk to you again. I just…” I sighed, unsure about how to go forward from here. “I, uh, it’s all right with me if you and the dingbat stay in the guest house. And tomorrow, you can meet Zoe.”
“Really?” She blinked, and a tear rolled down her cheek.
My heart went with it. “Really. I have to work, but I’ll talk to Briar and make sure she knows what’s going on.”
“Thank you, Kingston. That means more to me than I could ever say.”
I nodded tightly. “You’ll need to sign an NDA. I can’t go into this naively. It’s not just me I’m trying to protect here.”
“Seriously, King?” Nix frowned. “That’s so—”
“I understand.” Mom placed a hand on Nix’s shoulder as she cut him off. “I can sign one now if you’d like.”
“Tomorrow is soon enough.” I hit my fist against my thigh as agitation filled me. I hated talking about feelings and being all vulnerable. My years with Ariel had taught me it was a minefield better avoided. “I’ll have a chat with Briar so she knows to expect you.”
“A chat. Sure.” Nix leered at me then grunted when Mom’s elbow connected with his stomach.
