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“Love? My goodness, you have to be more self-aware than this,” Grace said with a sliver of condescension. “Love is not going to hold down a marriage or family. Don’t be naïve. It takes sacrifices to accomplish a successful relationship. Love is fairytale nonsense.”
Her mother went through a lot in terms of relationships. Her parents’ divorce was nasty, with her and Ryan caught in the middle. She wanted to believe that her mother had once believed in love.
“If it’s as bad as how you’re painting it, then why should I want to be in a relationship at all?” Charlie retorted. “Wouldn’t it be more productive if I was single forever, in your case?”
“Don’t twist my words around. You know what I mean,” Grace chastised. “I’ve had enough of your insolence, Charlotte. Come back with me so we can discuss this. If you don’t want Matt, then there should be a few young men for you. I refuse to accept that you’re completely hopeless.”
Charlie would have thought that Grace was the town’s matchmaker if it wasn’t the 21st century. Maybe it was time Charlie found a hobby for her.
“Thank you. But I don’t need you to find me a man.” She resumed walking, only to be snagged on the arm again.
“What are you saying?” Grace demanded. “Do you already have someone in mind?”
The lightbulb in her brain flashed before her, and Charlie stopped in her tracks. Maybe Grace will stop pushing men at her if she had someone. But was she going to drag him into her problems again?
She groaned inwardly. After the brunch earlier, she thought itwould’ve been the last time she had to bring Rick’s name into the mud.
“Well,whois it?”
“You’ve never met him. And I don’t want you to meet him yet. I’m taking things slow,” Charlie fibbed.
Her mother’s jaw dropped. “When did you… no, don’t tell me my daughter is a harlot. This whole time, you’ve been?—”
“No!” Charlie objected. “I just met him.”
“How could you start something so quickly after your disastrous wedding? Have you no shame? Don’t let this get out to anyone! I thought I taught you better than this. Don’t make a bigger fool of yourself and me.”
Just a second ago she wanted to set up Charlie with another man and now Charlie was the slut? There was no pleasing this woman!
“Don’t fret, mother. All you have to do is mind your own business and leave me be. I promise I won’t put another smudge on your perfect image. God forbidthatis more important than your daughter’s needs!”
And with that, she stormed off.
Seven
A gloved fistslammed against Rick’s right cheek, knocking him to the side. He hit the ropes of the boxing ring, stumbled back out, and resumed his fighting stance. Red boxing gloves covered his hands, which were worn enough they looked pathetically flat. He wanted to believe it was why he was sucking so severely at today’s practice.
The coach shouted at him, half encouragement and half slanders, but none reached his ears. Byerly Wilkins, an advanced boxer, remained unfazed while Rick panted heavily.
“Focus, dude!” Nick hollered from Rick’s right. “Getonehit in, at least.”
Through his mouth guard, Rick couldn’t tell his friend to shut it. This was his first time going up against an experienced boxer. How else was it going to turn out?
Rick circled Wilkins, minding his footwork as he kept prowling eyes on his opponent. Wilkins took the first right hook, and Rick successfully blocked it. The second shot, a cross punch, and Rick blocked that too. He threw his own right cross, but Wilkins ducked, then punched Rick with a lead uppercut.
Grunting, Rick stumbled backward.
“You almost got it, man!” Nick shouted.
“Did anyone order a Princess here?” someone called from the assemblage of gym members. Rick barely paid attention, but suddenly the room got quieter.
“She’s asking for Rick!”
Wilkins straightened, pausing the training, which pulled Rick out of his adrenaline-fueled streak. He turned to see all eyes on someone approaching between the octagon cage and two boxing rings. Chatters turned to whispers amid the lowered noises, and Rick followed Nick’s attention as the two leaned out to see the commotion.
“Rick! You have been summoned!” someone ribbed. Johnny Allen, an obnoxious regular of the gym.
Ignoring him, Rick did a double take when he spotted the culprit for the disturbance in the gym’s usual chaotic stream.
