Page 80 of The Fun Part
“Mackenzie, sweetheart, you have inconvenient feelings? That’s wonderful!”
“That’s all you got from that?”
“It’s the first time you’ve had deep feelings. Thatiswonderful.”
I glare at her as best I can with swollen cry eyes. “No, it’s not wonderful because those feelings are not returned, and I’m the idiot who kept getting in deeper.”
She rubs my back.
“The whole thing was supposed to be fake!” I cry in despair. “And I said no sex because boundaries, but then there was kissing and, oh, this is all your fault. I thought you were secretly matchmaking when you told me to stay away from him, so I pretended we were a couple to catch you in the act.”
I glance up, feeling stupid.
Mom gives me a small smile. “Hmm. Well, I was of two minds when it came to Cal. I really like him as a person, but Iwas wary because of the live-in girlfriend situation. She clearly thought marriage was right around the corner. That to me says mismatched expectations, which could’ve been down to better communication, or it could mean he’s anti-marriage.”
I sniffle. “So you weren’t using reverse psychology to get me to be with him?”
“Have I ever used reverse psychology on you?”
I think about that. Besides the matchmaking, she’s always been straightforward with me. Well, not completely. “You always said the door was open for me to join as a partner in your business, and then you chose Rowan as partner.”
Her pale blue eyes widen. “But you never wanted that. You have your own business.”
“That’s where the reverse psychology comes in. Now that I’m closed out of it, I want the option. Maybe that was your plan.”
She huffs. “I’m not sure where you got the idea that I was manipulative. All I’ve ever wanted is your happiness. I love you unconditionally. I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become and the way you’ve forged your own way in the world. If you really want to join me in my business, that door is still open. Maybe one day you and Rowan can run it together.”
That’s exactly what Cal said. I burst into tears.
She pulls me close, smoothing my hair like she did when I was little. “Oh, honey.”
I sob into her perfect white dress. “I could never live up to your beauty-queen standards. I could never follow in your high heels.”
She leans back, cupping my face. “My darling daughter, you were never meant to. Dad and I wanted you to be a leader not a follower. We wanted you to be strong and confident, and you are.”
I grab a tissue and try to dry her dress. She waves me away. “Don’t worry about it. You’re more important.”
My lower lip quivers. “Being a strong woman with a blackbelt isn’t the same as being like you.”
“What is it about me you want to be like?”
My throat clogs with emotion, my inner little girl finally finding her voice. “I want to be beautiful and successful like you.”
She strokes my hair back from my face. “You are.”
“I want to be good at business like you, a master networker.”
She sighs. “That didn’t happen overnight. You’re well on your way. Now you have four full-time employees. That’s more than I ever had. And you don’t have to work weekends. Smart move.”
I laugh a little, but it turns into a sob. “I don’t think I’ll ever find the One.”
“You always said you didn’t believe in the One.”
“That’s because I thought it was vanishingly rare. Not something I could ever expect, and then Cal made me hope.” My voice breaks.
“Sometimes the One is right under our nose, but we don’t see it for a while.”
“That was true for you and Dad. Not me and Cal.”
