Page 41 of Fumbled Beginning

My throat got tight. “Thanks, Mom.”

“So, back to this girl. Tell me more.”

Talking about this with my mother was weird, and I reminded myself to be careful with how much I shared with her. I didn’t want her to get her hopes up.

I dragged a hand over my face and blew out a long breath. “I like her a lot, Mom, but it’s a little complicated because she’s Maverick’s sister.”

“Oh.” She paused. I could envision her eyebrows pulling together. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

“Maverick doesn’t know yet,” I said, playing with the grapes on my plate.

“Can I give you a piece of advice?”

It wasn’t like I could tell her no; she was my mother, after all. “Go for it.”

“I know starting a new relationship isn’t easy for you, and if this girl makes you happy, then don’t let anything stand in your way. I hate the thought of you being alone and miserable.”

“I’m not miserable,” I said, trying to reassure her. “I have football, my friends, I keep myself busy.”

“But you don’t have a partner to share your life with. Maybe this girl is the one.”

I ran a hand along the top of my head. “I’m easing myself into this. I don’t want to rush into anything. I want to do this right.”

I was starting to develop real feelings for Rylee, but I needed to be careful and not lead her down a path that wouldn’t go anywhere.

“Does she make you happy?”

I looked off to the side, feeling my chest grow tight. “She does, but I feel like I don’t deserve her. She deserves someone so much better than me. Someone that can give her one hundred percent.”

“Now you listen to me right now.” Her tone held that no-nonsense air. “The idea that you’ve planted in your head that you’re not enough is ridiculous. And I’m not just saying that because I gave birth to you. You are a wonderful, kind, compassionate man. But sometimes, son, you can be a total blockhead. What happened with Caroline was an accident. What is it going to take for you to realize that?”

“I don’t want to talk about Caroline.”

“What else is new?” I knew she had good intentions, but talking about my ex-girlfriend would never be easy for me, and I’ll never forgive myself for what happened to her. “I’m sorry.” Her voice grew soft. “I know it’s a tough topic for you, but if you ever want to move forward, you’re going to have to let her go.”

I swallowed hard. “I have let her go, but that doesn’t mean I can just shed the guilt completely.”

“You’re right. Baby steps. So, tell me about this woman who has caught your attention.”

“I’m pretty sure you’ve met her before, at least in passing.”

“Well, I would like to properly meet her. Maybe you could bring her to the charity dinner next month.”

“Maybe.” My eyes darted around the room. “Like I said, things are new, but I’ll give it some thought.”

She squealed into the phone, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “She must be someone special, because, JP, this is huge progress for you.”

My mom has been harping on me for years to find someone to settle down with. The last thing I needed was for her to get ideas in her head and start playing matchmaker.

“Mom, please slow down.”

“I’ll try.” She sighed into the phone. “I just think it’s wonderful. I haven’t heard you this happy in a long time.”

There was no denying that Rylee was breathing life back into me. There was also this feeling of dread deep in my bones that I couldn’t ignore. That somehow, someway, I would end up letting her down.

CHAPTER12

RYLEE

---