Page 23 of Faking It with my Billionaire Grump

“Yes, Mom. I’m home.”

This place has always been my home. I’m sure it has something to do with the fact that I was raised in this house. Even when I had my own apartment in the city, there was no time that I felt the same comfort of belonging as I always have here. And yet, when I heard that word on my tongue, I experienced a strange sensation of discomfort.

I’ve not been back a week, and a part of me doesn’t want to get comfortable. I don’t want to be that woman who ends up living with her parents at the age of thirty. The idea of not having to face the world again is alluring, but I can’t allow myself to slip into a state where I’m never challenged or pushing myself.

“So? How did it go?” Mom asked eagerly.

By her face, it was clear she wanted more than I could offer. She wanted to hear that Jake and I picked up where we had left off. That the flame was reignited. That I’m moving back to Baskington for good, and that there’s a wedding on the horizon.

Dad was just being Dad, sitting in his chair in the corner reading the paper, remaining silent while surreptitiously listening to the conversation.

“It went as it was supposed to go,” I replied, moving to the cupboard to lift a glass. “He did me a favor, and I paid the debt owed.”

“And?” she pressed.

I poured water from the filter jug and shrugged. “And nothing.” Turning to face her, I leaned on the counter and took a sip of the cool, refreshing liquid. “He needed help with the horses, so I cleaned the stables and then groomed them. That’s it.”

Mom lifted her eyebrows, clearly not convinced. “You can’t tell me you guys didn’t talk?”

“Actually, I can. Jake was busy looking after the rest of his animals. We hardly saw each other.”

Her face fell, and evidently not knowing what else to say, she glanced at Dad.

“I’m not getting involved,” he said, catching her looking over.

Mom huffed then. “Well, maybe you planted a seed.”

“For what?” I cried, feeling slightly frustrated with her. “It’s been ten years, Mom. Whatever me and Jake had is over. You need to get that into your head. It’ll save you a whole lot of hurt and disappointment in the long run.”

Mom looked upset, and I heard Dad’s reprimanding voice. “Tilly.”

I sighed. “I’m sorry, Mom. I’m just a bit tired. In fact, I’m going to take a bath. I need to smell like me again.”

Maybe I had been a bit harsh, but with what I’m already dealing with, I really don’t need Mom pushing her agenda onto my already full plate. She was devastated when she found out that Jake and I had broken up all those years ago. Not half asdevastated as when she found out I was moving to the city. She cried for a week. It was like I had died.

But the bath has helped my aching bones. I now smell like a human and not a horse, and all I want to do is throw on my PJs and fall into bed. Grabbing my gear, I slip out of the back door and across to the barn, avoiding Mom and Dad, who are both now in the living room watching TV.

It’s only when I’m cozily tucked into bed that I lift my phone. There are five text messages waiting for me, and they’re all from Bryan.

Was that what you call a date?

If you think I believed your little farce, you must think I’m stupid.

That small-town hick is not the man for you. You need a real man. A man who can give you a future.

I love you. Please don’t throw what we have away. I’ve told you. I can change.

Are you there?

“Oh, Lord.”

I heave a sigh and drop my head on the pillow.

Had I really believed that one date was going to do the trick? Maybe I was so desperate for it to work that I didn’t really give it as much consideration as I should have. Knowing what he’s like, I should have realized it was going to take more than one dinner with an ex-boyfriend.

So all my effort had been for naught. All my begging and pleading and humiliating myself in front of Jake, as well as the disaster that was our fake date, had all been for nothing. As had all the work I had done today. Yes, alright, I had enjoyed it, but I wouldn’t have voluntarily put myself to work mucking out horse poop.

This is a nightmare. A nightmare I don’t know how to wake up from. I’m right back where I started. What am I supposed to do now?

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