Page 61 of No Ordinary Love

The doorbell rang, and I sighed as I lumbered to the door. When I saw it was my mother and Hugh, I was tempted to pretend I wasn't home. I reluctantly opened my door to let them in.

Mama kissed my cheek, greeted me, and all but pushed me into the townhouse.

I shook hands with Hugh and stood aside, feeling more exhausted than I had in a long time. Just when I thought I wasmaking progress with Amara, not because we had sex, though, that had been fucking amazing, but because she was finallytalkingto me—it had all gone back to square one. She blamed me for letting Kath get away with humiliating her. I blamed myself, as well.

"Would you like a drink?" I asked. I may have found Hugh and my mother's presence irritating, but I was still a good ol' Southern boy.

They did, and I poured Hugh and myself a finger of Scotch and Mama a glass of port. They had apparently had dinner with some friends and decided to drop in to talk to me.

I drank my Scotch and waited. I had zero fucks left, and I was ready to throw both of them out of my house if they were going to do the same old song and dance, Southern hospitality be damned.

"Son, I was happy to hear that you and Kath went public with your relationship at that university charity thing," Hugh started.

"Kath made the announcement, which I didn't approve of then and don't approve now," I stated bluntly.

"But now everyone thinks you're in a relationship," Mama smiled indulgently. "Which is lovely, isn't it?"

I sighed. "No, Mama, it's not lovely, what it is, is fucked up."

"Lucas Jonathan Covington, mind your language," she immediately chastised me like I was ten fucking years old.

"I think we're past worrying about language, Mama," I drawled. "Hugh, I was clear with you. I was clear with Kath. I'm done. There is no relationship. There will be no engagement and no wedding. Kath and I are finished. I can record it for you and you can play it whenever you feel the desire to have this conversation with me so we don't waste our time."

Hugh's face went beet red. He was angry. Well, so was I, and he could go fuck himself. I was so tired of everyone trying to make their children live life on their fucked up terms. I used tothink it was my duty, my obligation—what everyone expected of me. But marrying someone I didn't love was a line I just couldn't cross.

"Son, I told you that if you screw this up, I'll fuck up your life," Hugh growled.

I looked at Mama, and she nodded at Hugh, who was threatening her sonandusing the F word, which she didn't seem to mind. It was clear whose side my mother was on.

"Feel fuckin' free, Hugh."

Hugh glared at me. "I have influence on the board. I'll strip you of the CEO position."

"Knock yourself out." I stood up then. "If this is what y'all wanted to talk about, I'll see you to the door."

"Don't be rude, Lucas," Mama scolded.

"No, Mama, I'm not. You both coming to my home, threatening my job and position in the company because I don't want to marry a woman I don't love, a woman who left me for my friend—a woman I absolutely do not trust or even like—thatis rude." I looked into Hugh's eyes. "You wanna fuck with me, Hugh? Go right ahead and see who comes out a winner."

"You'll lose your job, son."

Hugh obviously had no sense of self-preservation. He was one of those entitled rich white men who thought he had more influence than he did.

"I don't give a shit," I informed him. I had enough money in trusts to live several lifetimes, never worrying about a thing. "In fact, get someone else to do that thankless job. I'm sure the board will thank you for relieving me from my duties."

The board had a significant financial interest in LPC, and there was no way they'd want to lose the CEO who had brought so much prosperity to the company and increased their investment considerably. Hugh was living in some fantasy land where he thought he could threaten me.

Mama stood up and walked to me. She put a hand on my cheek. "Lucas, honey"

I stepped away from her touch. "Mama, I need you to listen to me carefully. My relationships are none of your business. They'renotCovington family business. Don't interfere in my life again."

She gasped, and I knew she was shocked. I never spoke to my mother this way. I was the polite son, the considerate one who kept everyone happy. What had it gotten me? I was one unhappy son of a bitch who drank at night so he could sleep and worked all day so he'd be too tired to think about the woman he loved and lost.

"You both should go." I walked out of the living room toward the front door.

Hugh and Mama followed.

Hugh was angry. Mama was hurt, wiping tears. I hated hurting her; hell, I hated hurting anyone, but in protecting my mother and sister, I had caused Amara pain time and again. I had to man up and point out bad behavior when I saw it and not excuse it.

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