Page 86 of We Finished Here

I know the second the words are out of my mouth that they’ve hurt her. Because her career was cut so short because of injury. She never got to live out her dream, only through others. Maybe that’s what happened here.

It’s not that I feel she pushed me into ice hockey, but she was extremely vocal about me skating from the moment I could walk.

“That’s a little unfair, Taylor.”

“Is it, Mom? What else don't I know about while we’re on the subject? My Father, for one… I’m seeing him tonight, so if there’s anything at all you’ve held back from me with him, then now would be a good time to tell me about that too.” I try to ignore the tears in her eyes. I mean, what does she expect me to say?

“There’s nothing that you don’t know about him already. He helped financially, but I wouldn’t let him in for selfish reasons. You already know that.”

“Another thing you regret?”

She glares at me. “You know what he did to me, Taylor! Why are you bringing all this up now?”

“I just want it out in the open. Isn’t that fair?”

She tries to open her mouth to speak, but I cut her off. “Actually… you know what? I need to go.” I shake my head. “I’m done.”

“Taylor, don’t leave like this… please.”

“I need to think,” I grit out, striding across the kitchen and walking out, leaving my mom gaping and looking broken. I feel like an asshole. Better I leave now before I say anything I might regret.

CHAPTER19

Taylor

Maybe mom thinks I’m acting like a spoiled brat, but I can’t help the way I feel walking away from the house. There’s just so much going on in my head.

I can’t believe my mom would do what she did. It wasn’t as though I was a child back then, not capable of making my own decisions. I’m mad as hell.

I know I will fix things with her, but I need time to process it all and get it out of my system.

I rub my left side which is fucking aching from the beating the other night while I stand there outside the house for a moment.

I have been feeling pretty good about things up until the confrontation with mom. I mean, how did I really expect it to go? After being on cloud nine about the game and seeing Emmerson, I’m quickly brought back down to earth with everything else going on around me.

Dad and I agreed to meet up for dinner tonight, it’s too late to cancel on him now because of fighting with mom. I know I can’t let that cloud my judgment over everything else.

I am hoping that I’ve taken the first steps to something resembling having a relationship with him.He was over the moon about me getting into the finals.

I decide to head home, because I don’t want Em to see me like this. It doesn’t look as though anyone is at her place anyway.

I walk out to my car, just as Emmerson’s mom’s car pulls up in the driveway.

Oh the fucking irony.

I linger, because it would be kind of rude to take off now.

I hear Em before I see her. “Hey, Taylor.” I hear the car door close.

I duck my head under the Douglas Fir trees and see Em walking over towards me.

Fuck. This is exactly where we met when we were kids.

“Hey,” I say, leaning against one of the trees, folding my arms across my chest.

“Are you okay?” She asks me.

I sigh heavily, not meaning to, but there it is. “I just talked to my Mom.”

---