Page 74 of No Ordinary Love

After the call ended, I wondered why I had held a grudge for so many years. It wasn't worth it. Or maybe because I was so fucking happy that Amara was giving me a chance, and I was, as she said, getting cocky about my chances of winning her over that I couldn't give two fucks about Mercer, Kath, and that drama.

Since my day was not sufficiently fucked up, my mother decided to show up to work.

"We need to talk about the holidays."

I took a deep breath, counted to ten, and exhaled slowly, hoping to tamp down my temper.

"Mama, I'm not in the mood to discuss the holidays with you."

She gave me a hurt look. Patsy Covington had made an art out of emotional blackmail. I'd spend my entire life trying to give her what she wanted to keep the peace. But I was outta fucks!

"Thanksgiving is in just a few days."

"And you've invited the Bellamys," I pointed out, "I'm not interested in seeing either Hugh or Kath socially."

She gasped. "They're your sister's family, Lucas; you can't avoid them."

"Watch me." I sighed. "Mama, this is my place of work, and I'm busy."

"Am I losing you, Lucas?" There was a wealth of disappointment in her eyes. If there had been genuine hurt and not just outrage, maybe I'd have felt some guilt—but I knew Mama and knew that after a lifetime spent manipulating everything and everyone around her, I didn't think she knew what an honest emotion looked like.

"Did you ever have me?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Mama, you had a version of me, the one you wanted to see—and the one I thought I could be for the world. That version is more Covington than Lucas."

She looked at me, puzzled. "I have no idea what you're talking about. You're not making any sense."

I sighed. "Mama, I'm more than a Covington."

She laughed uncomfortably. "Well, yes."

"The man I am now and the one I want to continue to be will not be spending my holidays with you if you chooseto spend them with Hugh and Kath. How about that? Is that simple enough to understand?" I stood up, tired of this nonstop nagging. No wonder my father drank like a fish—right now, I was tempted to head straight to the nearest bar.

"That just won't do," Mama said primly.

"Okay," I shrugged. "I'm still not going to be at your dinner table on Thanksgiving or Christmas."

"Where will you spend the holidays then?"

I smiled broadly then. "With Amara and her father."

"Lucas," my mother cried out and stood up so quickly that she dislodged the leather chair she was sitting on, causing it to wobble a little. Admirable, considering the sturdiness of that chair, I thought as I waited for the hysterics.

"Grandma told me she was going to leave after the board meeting tomorrow for Hawaii. Maybe Amara and I could go there for Christmas," I said thoughtfully.

My mother's face dropped. "Rena is joining us for Thanksgiving Dinner, and she has not said anything about not spending Christmas at the estate."

"Well, I'm sure her assistant will let you know. I'd make it a point if I were you to ask her." I was running out of patience. "Mama, I am busy."

"Stop it," she yelled. "Just stop it. That horrible woman is breaking up my family."

My office door opened, and I sighed.Who else was going to fuck up my day today?

"Stop screaming, Patsy, the whole floor can hear you," Grandma admonished as she walked in high heels and a bright red pantsuit. She looked at me and smiled. "I spoke to the last board member who you couldn't reach, and we're all good for tomorrow."

My mother glared at Grandma. "Did you know he's not spending Thanksgiving with us?"

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