Page 23 of Shot Through the Heart

“No, Mom. You don’t need to remind me of anything. Trust me.” I suck in a deep breath, needing to calm myself down so that I don’t end up raising my voice at my own mother. “It all just…happened. She’s new to the city. From my understanding, she got a job at some publishing company and happens to be friends with my teammate’s fiancée.”

It’s not all a complete lie.

Stellaisnew to the city. She did seem to know who Lilly was when they met. And by the time we met up after the game, she was exchanging inside jokes and phone numbers with both Lilly and Ari.

None of that stops the nerves that pool in my stomach as I wait with bated breath for my mom’s response. Reminding myself I’m an adult and she can’t ground me for fibbing anymore doesn’t actually seem to stop the full-body reaction, though.

After a long, drawn-out pause, my mother finally speaks.

“Did she have anything to say about why she left?”

My shoulders relax a tad and some of my unease is replaced by the sharp tightening of my chest that happens every time I remember Stella’s disappearing act.

“It didn’t come up, no.”

“Well, hopefully, that was it and she doesn’t show up at any more of your games. I know it’s hard when there are mutual acquaintances involved, but she has no right to just show up like this. No warning, no sense of respect for your place of work. It’s insulting. I knew she was horrible when she walked away from you, but to just turn up now?”

I grimace, debating how to tell her that Stella will most definitely be pictured around me again.

“Maybe I should come down for the next few games, just in case she decides to show up. That way I can?—”

“No!” I practically shout, shocking myself, and undoubtedly her since I rarely raise my voice. I shove to my feet and pace the length of the two queen beds before pivoting and heading back. As I pace, I scramble to get my thoughts together.

“Greyson, it’s no problem. I can be there to help you and?—”

“Mom, no,” I interrupt gently this time. “I am twenty-five years old. I don’t need you to come swooping in like my knight in shiny Prada. I don’t have any plans to let her close again. If she’s at future events or games, I can handle it.”

“Oh, baby, I know you can.”

“Then you need to let me.”

Her sniffles echo through the speakerphone. “It’s hard to sit back and not do anything when I see you in a situation that could hurt you. I’ve worked so hard to protect you.”

“I know, and you’ve done a wonderful job at that, Mom. But I am a grown man. I don’t need you to come fight my battles for me anymore.”

She sighs heavily. “I just know I could help.”

“And you’ll be the first person I call if I need it,” I assure her.

“Fine. But you must promise me that you won’t let her trick you into anything. I don’t trust her timing on this. She’s probably hoping to scheme you into giving her money.”

I don’t bother trying to tell my mom that I could offer Stella the entire net worth of our family and she would turn it down in a heartbeat. If there is one thing that’s for sure, even if I no longer know the woman that Stella has grown into, to her core she is not a materialistic person.

Instead, I simply placate my mom.

“Yes, Mom. Trusting Stella is one of the last things I will ever do again.”

With that, my mom changes the subject to the latest gossip she learned and gives me a brief update on how my dad is doing. The entire time she talks, I can’t help feeling more guilty for agreeing to my mother’s promise than I did about stretching the truth as to why Stella was even at my game.

I didn’t think it was a lie. My plan was never to let Stella get close enough to hurt me again, so that would mean not trusting her.

Before my mom hangs up, she makes me reassure heragainthat I won’t trust Stella.

Groaning, I toss my phone onto the bed and head to the bathroom to finally scrub my body clean.

The hot water hits my aching shoulder muscles, and I bite back the moan as they finally start to relax under the pressure. I drop my head forward and try to enjoy the moment alone.

Only when I close my eyes, I’m met with the image of Stella at the game, in a jersey that hadmy fucking name.

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