Page 118 of Succeeding Love

She was chewing on her nail, and I could tell there was more. There was something she wasn’t telling me.

“And…” Mindy started again. “Well, your mom called me your girlfriend once or twice. Said something about you being madly in love with me. Your short, little neighbor woman seemed surprised at that.” Her grin grew. “I guess I know why now.”

“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, raking my hands through my hair.

“Hmm,” Mindy tilted her head. “Everything makes more sense now. Guess I was worried about nothing.”

“You have no right to be worried about anything concerning me,” I snapped. “Do you realize how big of a shit storm you created?”

“Oh, I wasn’t concerned for you, Kev. Never was. You were never the type toneedme, or anyone else, for that matter. Your mom is a different story.”

My brow pulled down with a mix of anger and confusion. “Mom’s not your problem either.”

Mindy rolled her eyes, huffing. “If I had known you were living here again, I wouldn’t have come. The only reason I did was because your mom sounded like she needed help. I was just planning on making sure she was okay and didn’t need to go to the hospital or something, then I was leaving.”

“Needs help, how?” Mom was fine when I left. Confused, but that was nothing new.

“I don’t know. She just sounded crazy. Like she didn’t know which way was up. She thought we were still dating. I got worried and came by. It wasn’t a big deal, but I just didn’t want to feel like shit later if I saw on the news some confused old lady got in an accident driving on the wrong side of the road or something.”

I groaned, pacing on the porch. I should have checked in with mom throughout the day. I should have sent Preston to look in on her, or asked what she was doing when I heard her talking to herself in her room.

She wasn’t talking to herself. She wasn’t rehearsing what to say to Lynn later. Mom was talking to Mindy. That had to be it.

“Just go,” I pointed at her car. “If she calls you ever again, ignore it.”

Mindy crossed her arms, eying me. “If I fucked something up with your neighbor, I’m sorry. I really wasn’t trying to cause problems for you.”

“I got it!” I snapped. “Just go!”

She sighed, shaking her head. “As hotheaded as ever. Don’t worry. I’m gone.”

She flipped me off, strutting to her car. I stood there sternly, staring until she took off down the road.

When I looked up, I saw Preston watching, too. He was fidgeting with my keys, looking awkward, like he didn’t know what to do with them.

“I’ve got to talk with mom,” I yelled over to him. “I’ll come over when I’m done. Can you-”

“Groceries are put up,” he said before I could finish my sentence. “I’ll be in the kitchen.”

Fuck. I don’t know how much he heard or saw, or what he thought of this shit, but I was suddenly nervous. The kid was a fraction of my age, but when it comes to Lynn, that didn’t matter. If her kids started to hate me, it was over. I was done.

With a heavy groan, I headed back in.

Mom was no longer in her chair. She was in the kitchen, bent over the kitchen sink. Her shoulders were shivering, and I caught the soft sounds of her crying.

“Mom,” I let my irritation fade away, coming behind my mom and hugging her shoulders.

She dropped the sponge she was using to clean the coffee cups. Her shoulders shook more, sinking forward.

“I messed up,” she whispered roughly. “Oh, Kevin,” she turned to face me. Her face was dripping with tears. “I messed up. I… I was…”

“It’s okay, mom,” I whispered, hugging her close as she buried her face in my chest. “You were a little confused. It happens. It’s okay.”

“No,” she whimpered. “It’s not.”

She’s right. It wasn’t okay, but it would be. She didn’t know what she was doing. Mindy was gone now, and I was sure no matter how confused Mom was in the future, my ex wouldn’t be back here. Not after today, for sure.

“I’m sorry, Kevin,” Mom cried, her tears soaking the front of my shirt. “She… She met…”

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