Page 116 of Loving the CEO

"What harm can it do to listen to what he has to say?"

"He hurt me, Mother. Do you understand that? You know what hurt is. You've told me all my life how much Dad hurt you."

She took a step back to avoid my flailing arms. "Put your hands down. You always were one to overexpress yourself. And don't you dare bring that up about your father. It's not even remotely the same."

"I'm not here to compare who got more hurt, or who got a worse fate, but this is unacceptable," I told her. "I'm not interested in anything that's got to do with Walter. Or you, actually. Us opening a B&B together has always been your dream, not mine."

"That's not true. You said you wanted to open one." Mom’s haughty expression seemed to crack, and I felt a little bad, but I had to get through to her somehow.

"Yes, but by myself. But somehow over the years, you made it into a mutual dream. Maybe at one time, when I was younger, it might have worked, but it never would now, and you know it. We could never be so close to each other every day.”

Mom nodded in agreement at that. Maybe she’d finally realized that we were our own people, and to try and run a business together would be futile.

“And sinceyouasked Walter here,youcan talk to him." I wasn’t going to get involved in this mess, and I certainly didn’t want to see that asshole. We weresodone.

I couldn't wait to get to Debbie's and pour myself a huge glass of wine—or a fucking bucket because just a glass wouldn't do.

I told Mom goodbye and left the building, determined to walk past Walter, but he was waiting on the porch.

"Tory!" He looked, well, terrible. He'd grown out his beard, but not in a sexy way. His hair was on the wild side, too, which was truly unlike him.

"You know what? I'll just wait inside and let the two of you talk." Apparently, Mom had followed me out the door.

Oh no, she’s not getting away with this.

"Mom, don't you d—”

Before I could finish the sentence, she closed the door.

"I have nothing to say to you," I said, turning to Walter. My hands flew up from my sides, waving wildly. "I can't even believe this is happening."

I was damn angry right now. I’d fought to be civil for Mom's sake. I planned to do no such a thing for Walter. He didn't deserve it.

"Tory, listen. I fucked up. I know that."

"Oh, really?" I snarked, moving my hands to my hips. I couldn’t believe this bum.

"I... I don't know what got into me. We'd been together for so long, and things had started to cool down. You can't deny that.”

“Couples go through phases, and you know what you do when that happens? You fight for the relationship. You don't go and fuck around behind their back.” I was restless, moving back and forth on the porch as I let him have it.

“Stop for a damn minute, will you?”

Reluctantly, I paused, waiting for his excuses.

He sighed. “As I said, I screwed up. I... Your mom told you, right?"

I narrowed my eyes. Was he implying what I thought he was?

"What exactly was she supposed to tell me?"

"That I want to help you." He rolled his shoulders back. His eyes were cold. "I’ll buy this place so you two can run it, on one condition.”

Oh, I can’t wait to hear this.

He went on boldly, “If you take me back."

This was even worse than I’d thought.

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