Page 54 of Upshot

“Your father sent me to talk some sense into you. His words, not mine.” I open my mouth to protest, but she holds up a hand to stop me. “But I don’t know that I want to do that. I’m glad I got to spend a little time with Brontë and her family at the baby shower. I’m also glad I got to see the two of you together.”

I remain silent. My mother rarely makes idle small talk. Geneva is a lot like her in some ways. The difference is my father. She has let him rule her life with fear for so long that I don’t think she knows any other way to live. It breaks my heart.

“I can see how happy you are when you’re together. Your eyes light up when she walks into the room. So, I’m taking a stand. Something I should have done a hundred times through the years.”

“Mom—” Her hand goes up again.

“I want you to run, Rand.” She ends the sentence with a sob. My hands take hers as I slide closer. “I want you to run back to Texas, fall on your knees, and beg her to let you stay.” A tear breaks free and rolls down her cheek. “I need you together so I get to play with my grandbaby when I come to visit.”

“I promise, Mom. I’ll get her back.” My arms wrap around her. “And when I do, you’re welcome to visit us anytime you want.”

“Good,” she answers. A tissue magically appears in her hand. She carefully blots at her eyes. “Because I’m going to spend a lot of your father’s money spoiling that baby.”

We laugh. Soon, we’re relaxing on the couch. The evening turns into one of the best I’ve ever spent with her. We laugh as she tells stories about me as a baby.

In the two hours she stays, I feel like I’ve had a glimpse of the woman my mother should have been. I make a promise that she will always have a place in my child’s life. I don’t promise the same for my father.

After she leaves, I take a good look around my condo. I can’t help but smile, realizing I could leave right now and never miss it. If it wasn’t for the handful of things I need to do here before I move, I would jump in my car tonight.

It’s been almost nine months since I begrudgingly boarded the plane for Arizona. Fate has a funny way of landing us right where we need to be.

* * *

BRONTË

“Why are guys such dicks?” I whine. “Present company excluded.” Reed holds up his beer to acknowledge the exception.

It’s been almost a week since the incident, as we’ve been calling it. I haven’t answered the million voice mails or texts Rand has left. Fine. A million might be a bit extreme, but he hasn’t stopped. They come in like clockwork.

“They’re born that way. It’s on the Y chromosome.” See, Eliot gets it.

“Maybe you should talk to him.” Austen is of no help. “There could be a simple explanation for what he said.”

“Why are you taking his side? You weren’t there. You didn’t hear what he said,” I fire back.

“Feels like we were,” Eliot mumbles.

I lift my head off Austen’s lap long enough to glare at her.

“It’s all we’ve been focused on,” she adds in exasperation. “I’m sorry Rand turned out to be a jerk. But all of the carrying on about it can’t possibly be good for the baby.”

“It might as well learn early on that Daddy won’t be around,” I snip. My mood seems to be extremely crappy today. “That he never cared about us. No man worth keeping ever will.”

“Okay.” Reed throws the magazine he’s reading on the table. “Get up.” He walks over to the couch and pries me off it. “Get in the car.”

“What—?” I begin.

“Just get in the car.”

Reed is one of the most easygoing guys ever. When he gets angry, it’s completely out of character. At least where I’m concerned. He and my sister fought like two cats in a bag growing up.

He takes my hand. By the time he has me in the car, my sisters are right behind. Climbing into Austen’s car, we drive toward the part of town I haven’t been in since last week. Okay, it’s like four blocks away, but I’ve managed to avoid that street.

“Reed,” I whine when we pull into Rand’s driveway. It doesn’t do any good. Before I know it, he’s dragging me up on the front porch. He knocks and waits. “What are you doing?” He ignores me as the front door swings open.

Rand stands in the entry. How is it possible he got even better looking in the week we’ve been apart? I don’t know if it’s the hormones talking, or if I just miss him so desperately I’m seeing things. Speaking of, why is he here? I was very clear when I told him to go home.

Reed pushes past him, tugging me along. My sisters follow on our heels. I would storm back out, except Reed has a death grip on my wrist. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this irritated.

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