Page 63 of Wood You Knot

“Okay, we’ll see you guys there,” Parker said, holding open their minivan’s door for Tabitha as Preston and Paxton climbed into the back seat.

Alone in my car for the brief ride home, I allowed my thoughts to drift to the situation with Warren earlier. I’d been surprised to see him there, and even more surprised to see the protective stance Nix had taken, even before knowing who he was.

I parked my car and grabbed my camera bag, my eyes surveying the parking lot for any sign of the black car I’d seen Warren get into earlier. I didn’t see it, but I still waited until Nix pulled in to get out and lock my car.

Nix parked beside me and got out of his truck, strolling over with a concerned look on his handsome face. It was dark, and we were alone, so he pulled me into his arms, holding me close to him. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just…that was really weird,” I admitted, leaning into his embrace and wrapping my arms around his lower back. I looked up at him, surprised to see him scanning the dark parking lot, as if he was looking for Warren’s car too.

The uneasiness I’d felt at Warren’s abrupt, unwanted reappearance into my life unsettled me. He hadn’t tried very hard to convince me to stay when I caught him cheating. He’d placed the blame on me and let me pack up Daphne and my things. I’d been gone before a full twenty-four hours had passed after my discovery.

He hadn’t tried to show up at Nellie’s or my mom’s while I stayed there. He hadn’t tried to call—or at least, I didn’t think he had. At the advice of Nellie, I blocked his number from contacting me. I’d thought it was a great idea at the time because I really wasn’t interested in hearing what he had to say. He’d said enough after I caught him red-handed.

I still didn’t care to hear what he had to say. As far as I was concerned, the relationship was over, and so was the need for me to listen to his drivel. It wouldn’t change anything because I didn’t want him back. He’d exposed his true self, and I’d found that person repulsive.

I had to drop off my camera gear before we could head out, so we started walking through the parking lot. I shook my head, still stewing about the situation.

“Are you sure it was your mom who told him?” Nix asked.

“Yeah, I’m positive.” I sighed deeply. “Nellie’s the only other person who knows where I am, and she’d sooner perform a root canal on herself than help him. She never liked him,” I continued, opening the door to the apartment.

“Why would your mom do that?” Nix frowned, seeming to have difficulty with the concept of a mother putting her own child—and grandchild—at risk. I was just thankful Daphne hadn’t been around to witness things. I didn’t want her confused further by the situation.

I shrugged my shoulders as we started walking up the stairs. “She’s team Warren. She thinks I should have forgiven him for cheating on me and worked harder to be a better partner to him.” I rolled my eyes.

Nix’s frown deepened. “You weren’t to blame for any of his choices, Sage.”

“I know. Honestly, I never listen to my mother’s advice about relationships. She’s the worst example.” I laughed awkwardly, trying to hide my discomfort. I didn’t like talking about my complicated relationship with my mother—or why it was so complicated.

I remember watching episodes of Gilmore Girls as a child, wishing for that connection and mother-daughter relationship that Lorelai and Rory seemed to have, but it never came. My mother was more interested in finding a man that would support her. Any “quality time” we had together was spent with her criticizing me on any perceived imperfection that would “make it difficult for me to land and keep a man.” As if my worth was measured by that.

But to my mother, it really was. She measured her worth by who she was with or not with at the time. Appearances were just as important to her as they’d been to Warren, and I think that was why they hit it off. Warren turned out to be exactly like the men she constantly chose.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Nix said, leaning against the doorframe while I unlocked my apartment door.

“It’s okay, I’m used to it. Luckily, I have Auntie Em for the maternal advice she lacks. My aunt just so happened to agree with me, and given that she’s been in a healthy, happy marriage for three decades now, I’m more inclined to listen to her.”

“Em is the best. Ed too,” Nix remarked as we walked into the apartment, closing the door behind us. I nodded, walking over to the kitchen to set down my camera bag on the island, an exhausted sigh escaping my lips. “You sure you want to go to The Quarter Lounge tonight?” he asked, picking up on my mood.

“I told Tabitha we would…” I trailed off. I felt guilty for it, but I did want to bail. My social battery was drained, and I didn’t really feel like drinking out in public.

“Parker and the twins have probably filled her in by now. She’ll understand,” Nix told me.

“I don’t really want to be alone either.” I looked up at him, hating the vulnerability I felt. He crossed over, wrapping me back up in his embrace.

“I’ll keep you company.” He smiled down at me, his calloused hand rubbing my lower back. “If you want me to.”

“I do,” I told him, letting myself surrender into his hold.

* * *

I waited until Nix left Saturday morning to make the dreaded phone call. I sat in the silence of my apartment at the island with a cup of coffee and dialled her number. It rang several times before my mother answered.

“Hello, darling,” she sang, as if she hadn’t sent someone I didn’t want to see catapulting back into my life.

“Why did you tell Warren where he could find us?” I demanded, skipping the pleasantries.

“Oh! He showed up. How lovely,” she replied, as if this news was the best she’d ever heard. My aggravation grew.

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