AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I debate explaining the difference between libel and slander to her but realize I’m stalling again. If I don’t want to get kicked out, stalling time’s over. Shit.
“I need a coffee,” I murmur as I trudge to the kitchen. I guess I’m not done stalling after all.
When Indy follows me, I blow out a breath in relief. I haven’t lost her yet. I will soon. But not yet.
She sits at the table and I place a coffee in front of her before sitting across from her. I’d rather be close enough to touch her, but she won’t want to ever touch me again after my confession.
“You may begin.”
“Thank you, your highness.”
“Stop stalling.”
Fuck. Time to come clean. I don’t want to, but she’s going to learn the truth eventually anyway. I’m surprised her mom hasn’t told her already.
“Your mom told me to end our relationship.”
“What?” she gasps.
“Your mom visited me after school a few days before graduation. She told me I was ruining your life and if I didn’t end our relationship, she wouldn’t pay your college tuition.”
Indy scowls. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“I wish I was.”
“And you listened to her?”
“Of course, I did.”
She pounds her fist on the table. “My mother is such a freaking poop stain.” She jumps to her feet and begins pacing the room. “I can’t believe this. How dare she blackmail you? How dare she come between us?”
She blows out a breath and her initial anger drains from her. “All I’ve ever done is try to earn her love. I do everything she tells me to. I have the job she wants me to have. I date the men she wants me to date.”
She sniffs and tears well in her eyes. “I can’t believe I didn’t visit Grandma for years because I wanted to please Mom and not incur her wrath.”
I go to her. I can’t stand it when she’s in pain. “Don’t beat yourself up. It’s natural to want your mother to love you.”
She huffs. “But she broke us apart. She broke my heart because she didn’t want us together.”
I palm her neck and lay my forehead against hers. “She was right. I wasn’t good enough for you. I was the son of an alcoholic who never knew his dad. I was barely graduating high school.”
She rears back. “Now you’re just being an idiot.”
“Excuse me?”
“You can’t help who your parents are. None of us can. No matter how much we may wish otherwise.” One lonely tearescapes and she swipes it away with the back of her hand. “And who cares if you were barely graduating high school? Not everyone is book smart. You’re a talented musician. I think talent outweighs book smarts every day of the week.”
I smirk. “You think I’m talented.”
“Don’t you start flirting. You’re not out of the doghouse yet.”
“Woof!”
She ducks her head but not before I notice her smile. “Why didn’t you tell me this at the time? Why did you break up with me?”
“Because I was an idiot eighteen-year-old who believed every word your mother said.”
“Cash.”
