Page 53 of The Sweet Spot

Only have a few minutes to catch up with the girls? Great. Everyone meet for coffee because we were all going to be drinking it anyway.

The entire family is pissing you off? Okay. Meet at Aunt Amelia’s shop because she’s the only sister everyone listens to.

Mom shakes out her umbrella and leans it against the table as she drops a kiss on my head. “Hi, honey.”

“Hi,” I offer, still way too pissed to be having this discussion. Any discussion, really.

I push her coffee across the table and sip mine in silence.

“Brynlee . . . you can’t be mad at me.”

“Oh. That’s your first mistake, Mom. I can, and I am.” I make sure to keep my voice controlled and soft. I refuse to make a scene, and at this point, there’s nothing she can say that will change my mind. “I’ll get over it, but I’m not there yet. I know you think the world has to bend to the time-frame of Scarlet Kingston-St. James, but I hate to break it to you... That doesn’t include your children. We learned to tell you no years ago.”

Mom sips her coffee and crosses her long legs. She may not be my biological mother, but ironically, we look a lot alike. Though, unfortunately for me, everyone else in my family—including my mother—were all blessed with long legs. Everyone but me, that is.

“Honey, I was just trying to look out for you. The Kings travel less than the Revolution, and their season is shorter. It would be easier on your body.” She reaches across the table to rest her hand on mine, but I pull it back.

Fate is a cruel bitch.

For most of my life, I forgot Scarlet isn’t my biological mom. She was the most amazing mother. She never treated me differently than Killian or Olivia. She still doesn’t. Whenever someone else would bring it up, it would catch me off guard because it honestly wasn’t something I ever thought about. My biological mom wasn’t a good person, and I rarely ever thought about her.

But now... now she’s all I can think about.

Now she’s all my parents see when they look at me.

Even dead, she’s still coming up with a new way to ruin my life.

“I didn’t ask for a new job, Mom. You wouldn’t have done that for any other staff member?—”

“You aren’t just a staff member, Brynn. You’re my daughter. Show me a parent who wouldn’t move heaven and earth for their child, and I’ll show you a bad parent.” She sits perfectly straight with posture that would rival the Queen of England’s, but it’s a show. She’s holding back tears. I know her tell. And damn her for making me feel bad because I’m not done being right just yet.

I dig my heels in just a little harder.

“I’m not a child anymore, Mom. You can’t just mess with my job and my future because you think you know best.”

And just like that, any tears she may have been fighting back die, and anger takes over.

“At least I’m trying to plan for your future. Someone has to. You’re living like a flamingo with your head stuck in the sand, Brynlee. You’re in limbo. You can’t keep doing this.”

Fire burns in the pit of my stomach.

“This is why—” I stop myself and choose my next words very carefully. “That kind of thinking is why I am not ready to make any decisions yet. My head isn’t stuck in the sand. I’m living my life. I’m enjoying it. Hell, Mom, I’m thriving. I’m also counting down the days until I’m no longer under the umbrella of King Corp. so I don’t have to worry about you trying to manage my life for me because you don’t approve of my decisions.” I stand and take my coffee with me.

“Oh, honey,” she chides softly. “Someone has to manage your life since you refuse to do it.”

“I love you so much, Mom. And I know you think you’re doing the right thing. But instead of letting me make my own choices for my own life, you’re trying to force your choices onto me. If someone had done that to you at my age, you would have burned the city of Philadelphia to the ground just to prove them wrong.” I bend down and kiss her cheek. “You’ve never been a hypocrite before. Don’t be one now.”

And with that, I leave her behind and run through the rain to my car.

I think about trying to call Kenzie, but I doubt she’ll be able to talk. Across the street, Lindy and Everly’s bridal gown shop is open, and they’re probably both in there, but stopping by right now doesn’t even make sense. For the first time in my life, I’m keeping things from all my friends, and the worst part is I’m not sure I’m ready to change any of it.

“You look pretty,” Gracie leans her head against the bathroom door and looks me over. “Where are you going?”

“I’m in a bra and panties, Gracie. I look like a stripper,” I argue as I get ready for my big dinner with Deacon’s family, wishing I could tell her more, but she and I are continuing our own version of don’t ask, don’t tell, and tonight isn’t the night to break that truce.

Grace moves next to me and runs her fingers through the soft waves of my hair that refused to be tamed. I can relax the curls, but the waves will never be gone. “Fine,” she sighs before boosting herself up on my bathroom counter. “How was coffee with your mom?”

Now it’s my turn to sigh, already over today and trying to put on a good face for tonight. “She’s frustrated because I won’t do what she wants, and I’m frustrated because she thought it was okay to play puppet master with my life.”

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