Page 140 of Always You

Fucking hell.

56

I’m sitting on the kitchen island, reading a book with a cup of tea, when my mother walks in. Her long blonde hair is perfectly styled, and she’s wearing a gorgeous yellow sundress, shining like never before. She’s been in remission for a long time now, and every day she looks better than the day before. She hasn’t started working again, but she’s enjoying her life, spending time with her friends and me. She even started cooking again a while back, and I’m enjoying every plate she puts in front of my face.

“Wow, Mama. You look amazing!”

“Thank you, my sweet girl. I feel amazing.” She takes the stool next to me, grabbing my tea off the counter to take a sip.

“Do you have a date?” I ask, closing my book to give her my full attention.

“No, I’m just going to dinner with Margie from the gym. She was going on and on about this new place in Raleigh. She’ll be here to pick me up in a minute.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“Yeah, I’m excited.” She beams. “What are your plans today?”

“Jules is coming over. We’re making cocktails and listening to the nineties top 100.” I chuckle, right as my phone beeps.

“Hunter?” My mom’s eyes widen with a hopeful look, one that pisses me off as much as it makes me sad. She’s never made it a secret that she loved Hunter, but once again, lately, ourtime together, even over the phone, has become more and more brief. Our friendship is dying a slow death, and it makes me sad that my mama hasn’t really realized that.

“No,” I snort. Ever since he got engaged, we’ve barely been in touch, other than him asking what kind of suit would look best on him. I told him to go naked as a joke, but really, it was because I didn’t seriously want to discuss anything related to his wedding. He’s lucky I’m even going. God knows I’d rather skinny dip in the Antarctic.

“You haven’t been talking?” Mama places a comforting hand on my arm when I push my phone to the side.

“Barely. Hisfiancéedoesn’t want us to talk too much.”

“We haven’t really talked about it, because I figured you needed some time. But how are you feeling about his engagement?”

Like shit? Like my heart has been ripped out of my chest and thrown into a shredder?

“Should’ve seen it coming, I guess.”

“Maybe. But what are your thoughts?”

I sigh, knowing she’ll never let me suppress my feelings about anything. When she was ill, I might have gotten away with certain things, but now that she’s healthy and sparkling? Mama lets no moment pass where she can force me to face my fears and talk about my feelings.

“I want to be happy for him,” I admit, really feeling it in my heart, because he deserves to be happy. “But I can’t. I feel like he’s making a mistake, because I don’t like her. He deserves better. And when I’m being completely selfish? I hate her for stealing my best friend. Which is complete bullshit because it’s him. He shouldn’t give me that feeling. But I guess that’s what happens when you fall in love? Your partner becomes more important than your best friend.”

“Oh, please,” Mama sputters. “You know he’s not in love.”

I give her a doubtful look.

“He’s not,” she repeats. “Let me tell you something about Hunter Hansen. That boy had a troubled youth, losing his father and his brother like that. Being verbally and physically abused by his alcoholic mama for years. Even though he feels love deep down inside of him, he believes he doesn’t deserve it.”

“He doesn’t love.Hiswords.”

“Funny, because the first time I laid eyes on him, that’s all I saw.Love. In fact, the love dripped from his face like a love-struck puppy.”

“What the hell are you talking about, Mama?” I give her an incredulous look, the corner of my mouth rising because of her ridiculous words. If that was true, he’d be fighting for me instead of getting engaged to the girl he started fake dating a few years back. He’d give me the words I asked him for five years ago.

“He lovesyou, Charlotte. He has loved you since the first day he walked you home. He didn’t even deny it when I confronted him about it on his eighteenth birthday.”

Come again?

“You did what?! Are you serious?”

“As serious as my mama in her grave.”

---