He looked down and sighed.“The reality is hitting your mother hard.After you yelled at us…” There was a pause, but I wouldn’t apologize after all they’d done.“I think that was the first time she accepted it.And she feels like a failure.”
Habit, instinct,somethingalmost pushed me to respond that she wasn’t, but how would that help?She’d failed to see the risks attached to her investment with the Denbrowskis.She’d failed to learn to live with the consequences.If she and Dad had taken that obsession and used it on the travel agency, they might have been able to recover without involving me.
“Do you understand why we’re angry—why I’m angry?I gave up a lot, and when maybe some guidance about what was best for me might have helped, you were focused on money.Just money.”
His lips thinned.“It’s easy to say ‘just money’ when you’ve always had it.”
I glared at him.“I know what it’s like not to have much.That first year or two?I was in New York, scraping by on as little as possible so I could send the rest to you.And even before that, I saw what it was like for Mia’s family.”
Dad’s lips tightened.“Well, you’re here now, no money problems, so you’re free to pursue Mia again.”
I almost choked.“Are you serious?After what happened back then?She got married, has a kid.Her family needs her more now than before.”
He raised a brow.“You can pay someone to take care of her family.”
He’d never understand Mia.“She won’t leave them.Paying someone to take her place isn’t an option.”
He cocked his head.“You’ve thought about it.”
More than I’d ever tell him.“It was almost the only thing I thought of for a long time after I left.”
Dad sighed.“How long are you in the area?”
I lifted my cast.“For a few weeks, till this comes off and I can get back into training.I told Jess I’d look through things at Grandma’s house.There are a couple of boxes with your name on them.”
“Maybe you can have them delivered.But later.”
Ah.They weren’t over the whole issue of the house being left to Jess and me.“Sure.Let us know.”
I turned back in the direction we’d come.Dad kept pace beside me, asking about the Blaze, keeping topics light.I answered, but he didn’t see how they’d used me, and that was frustrating.Dad’s whole world was Mom, and he couldn’t entertain any flaws in her, or anything that would upset her.
At the parking lot we said good-bye and I watched him walk away, my anger still simmering.I wasn’t doing a very good job of laying these ghosts to rest.I’d promised Cooper and Jess, but things weren’t happening the way I hoped.
I ordered a ride and wondered what the hell else I was supposed to do.
Chapter10
He Wants me to Hurt
Mia
“Damn it.”I was due at work and the car wouldn’t start.One more check of my watch showed I had to find another way to get there.I called a rideshare but flinched when I saw the price.I couldn’t afford to pay that all the time.If I couldn’t get the car running soon, I’d have to get up earlier to take the bus.And how would I get Arne to soccer?
I took long breaths in the back seat as the ride headed to my current assignment.This was a day job, but it was only for the week.The client was impatient about getting back on his feet, but his wife was kind so I could put up with a bit of cranky.
It had been a few days, and I hadn’t run into Justin at the grocery store or anywhere else.A couple of people had asked me about him but I’d brushed them off.No one mentioned knowing that I’d gone to talk to him, which was a relief.After I’d slept and reconsidered what I’d done, I was shocked.I should never have gone over there.
I checked bus schedules when it was time to return home, but there was soccer again tonight so I didn’t have time.I winced at the peak pricing of the rideshare and crossed my fingers that the car would start when I got home.
I’d barely gotten out of the car when Cora stomped out of the house, followed by Dorian.“What’s wrong with the car?”
“I don’t know.I’m not a mechanic.”
She pouted.“It wouldn’t start.”
The car was mine.I bought it, insured it, and paid for gas.Cora and Dorian were supposed to ask before using the spare keys to take it anywhere.But they must have tried it while I was away.
“It wouldn’t turn over this morning, which is why I didn’t take it to work.”I opened the car door, slid in, and pulled out my keys to try again.The only difference from this morning was that I had two people hanging over the open door to huff in disappointment when nothing happened.