Page 110 of Someday You Learn

“Not fucking cool, man.”

Needing to put an end to this madness, I stand from my chair and spin my mother back to face me. “Mom, it’s not exactly what you think.”

“You lied to me.”

“I did, but Cashlynn was the one who came tomeabout being her fake fiancé, not the other way around. The arrangement just gave me the added bonus of getting my admirers to back off.”

Shesighs, seeming to calm down slightly from that information. “I had to find out during my gardening club that my son was an internet sensation. And then to discover that it was Willow that was posting these videos…” She glances back at Dallas.

He holds his hands up in the air. “Hey, I had nothing to do with this.”

“You’re gonna tell me that you had no idea what your wife was up to?”

“Mom.” I reach for her hand and motion for her to sit. Dallas grabs her a glass of water and then urges Penn and Grady to leave the room with him, leaving me and my mom alone.

“Yes, the engagement was fake, but my feelings are real.”

Her eyes start to soften. “Really?”

“Yeah, Mom. Cashlynn is it for me, and it’s taken me a year and three months and lots of therapy to realize it, but our situation is a lot more complicated than you think.”

Her bottom lip trembles. “You’ve been going to therapy?”

I huff out a laugh. “Yeah, and it fucking sucks, but it’s time to let go of Sasha.”

Her hand molds around the side of my face, sending her warmth and understanding through me. I know that deep down I never wanted to let my father down, but on some level, I think this woman is the one who always let me fall so I knew that I could and things would still be okay.

“Someday you learn that it’s not thewrongperson who makes you question what you want in life. It’s therightone, Parker.” Goosebumps break out on my arms from her words. “I’m glad that you finally figured it out.”

My vision gets cloudy again, but I blink away the moisture building in my eyes. “I’m working on it, but I’m still scared, Mom. I don’t want to fuck this up. I really thought after Sasha that my chance was gone. I felt like I let her down, and…

“I wish I understood where you got this idea that you only got once chance at love.”

Shaking my head, I glance around the empty room. “I’ve been thinking about that the past few weeks and I guess I never really struggled or failed at things in my life until that moment. Like, school was easy for me, and I stayed out of trouble unlike my brothers.” My mother rolls her eyes at that comment. “And I guess I just wanted a love like you had with Dad. I wanted to make you two proud of me. I loved Sasha, Mom, but the more I process everything, the more I realize I was young and naïve, and she was responsible for her choices. That relationship was a stepping stone for me to figure out how to be a better partner. I just wish I could have helped her more.”

“I know you do, but it wasn’t your job to fix her, Parker. She pulled away from you just as much as you did to her. She needed help, and you gave her that chance when you encouraged her to go to rehab. But she made the choice to leave, to drink, to drive. None of that was on you. You loved her enough to let her go, Parker, and that love gave her a second chance at a better life—for her and for you. She’s the one who chose not to take it.”

I pull my mother into my chest, inhaling deeply and exhaling guilt and lies as I breathe out. “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you too, son. I’m so proud of the young man you are and that you’re dealing with your past to have a chance at a better future.”

“Thank you.” When my mom releases me, a pinch in her brow develops. “What?”

“If this whole engagement was Cashlynn’s idea, what was in it for her?”

“Let’s just say that not everyone’s parents are as understanding as you,” I reply. “But make sure you don’t have any plans on Saturday. We have a gallery opening to attend.”

And then I tell my mother everything, and she helps me figure out exactly what I need to do next.

***

“Parker?” Cashlynn sits up on the couch as soon as I walk in the house later that evening. She rubs the tiredness from her eyes and blinks, focusing on me as I make my way over to her.

“Hey, sweetheart.” I take a seat next to her on the couch, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Sorry I kept you waiting tonight.”

She sits up, covering her mouth as she yawns. “It’s okay. I can’t believe I fell asleep out here.”

“Well, you’ve been working yourself hard these past few weeks getting ready for the opening on Saturday.”

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