Page 73 of From Our First

I pressed my lips together and nodded before standing up to stretch my back. “Let’s look at that painting again for Liam, and we can come up with a plan.”

“As long as you charge me full price,” Arden said, nodding at me. “No family discount.”

“Oh, there’s going to be a family discount, didn’t you just say I was connected?” I tried to sound light, as if I didn’t have a care in the world. But she saw right through that, and I didn’t blame her.

I didn’t know what I felt for or about Nate, and I wasn’t good at hiding that I was lost.

And Arden saw right through it.

We made a plan for Liam. I would drop off the painting at his birthday party, rather than Arden taking it now and hiding it from him. I didn’t mind, and I thought it would look perfect in their home, picturing where it would be in Liam’s office.

I figured I could go back to work, or maybe I should read a book or rest my brain for a bit. My mind was going in a thousand different directions, and it was hard for me to focus on anything. And it didn’t help that I kept thinking about Nate and what our future could be.

I was so scared.Soscared to want to feel and to be. So, I wouldn’t.

This was a momentary place in time.

Eventually, we would walk away and be friends. However, the sooner we did that, the easier it would be—and the less pain there would be in the end.

The doorbell rang, and I frowned, trying to figure out who it could be. Honestly, it could be anyone since everybody kept trying to see what was up with Nate and me; they constantly stopped by.

I shook my head, a smile playing on my face as I opened the door, only to frown as soon as I saw who was there.

“Mother.”

My mother stormed in, not even bothering to ask to be allowed inside. Her high heels clicked on my hardwood as she spun and narrowed her eyes.

The house was the same as it had been before. Cleaner even since my ladies had already been through to help me with any dust and vacuuming.

My mother hated the place, that was clear, and that made me love it even more.

There was probably something wrong with me.

“Why don’t you come right in?” I asked, trying to keep my voice from going too cold. I knew I was failing.

“You need to stop whatever you’re doing.”

I shook my head. “I’m not doing anything, Mother. I’m simply trying to live my life.”

“You are stealing from your family.”

I took a step back and shook my head. “How could I possibly be stealing from the family? I rarely talk to you. I have nothing to do with you.”

“And yet, my mother’s seen fit to give you everything. What did she see in you?” Her gaze traveled the length of my body, a look of distaste covering her features.

I tried not to let the slight hurt, the idea that my mother wanted nothing to do with me, and all she saw was what was lacking. But I couldn’t let it do too much.

Not when everything hurt already to begin with.

“You need to go. We’re already talking through our lawyers. Let’s continue doing that.”

My mother snarled. “You think it’s so easy? To walk away and think you get everything. I don’t know what you did tomymother, but I will never forgive you for daring to take what is not yours.”

“You need to leave. I loved Grandma. I wish I could have convinced her to come out here. To be in a place she loved. But in the end, she wanted to be where she lost her husband. Your father. And I understood that. But I didn’t convince Grandma to do anything. I never expected anything from her but her love. And I didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye. You took that away from me.”

“Stop it. I took nothing from you. You’re the one daring to take from us.”

“That’s a lie, and you know it.”

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