Page 67 of Mine To Keep (Southern Wedding)

“You hate him,” she reminds me of all the times she called, and I would rant about him.

“I know.” I hang my head. “I did, but now—”

“But now you’ve gone and fallen in love with a single dad, who is your boss.” She sums it up, and I just shake my head, not looking up at her.

“So why are you here and not there?” she asks me the million-dollar question.

“His ex wants him back, I think.” As I say the words, I put my head down on my arms.

“You think?” I look at her as she leans back in her chair.

“Well, I went over there yesterday for dinner, and she showed up.” The memory makes me ill. “And before that, she showed up at the office, not when we were dating, and said she was his wife.”

“What did he say about this?”

“He said that I’m not in the middle of anything because there is nothing to be in the middle of,” I admit to her, “and then I came here.”

She gasps, “Grace.”

“I know.” I shake my head. “I know I should have gone to him.” She nods her head. “But I was scared.”

“Scared of what?” she asks.

“Scared I’ve fallen in love with both of them, and he’s going to tell me he’s going back to his wife.”

“But how are you going to know if you don’t talk to him?” She uses her mother voice.

“Mom, this is the first time in my life I’ve ever been in love,” I admit. “It’s the first of many.” I hope she gets what I’m saying. “So, I’m in uncharted territory.”

“Well, rule number one is communication.” I roll my eyes at her. “You think I knew what love was when I met your father?” I know she didn’t because she was left for dead by her stepfather. “I knew nothing, but I knew he was different.”

“Mom.” I put my hand to my stomach. “There is so much going through my head right now. I don’t even know where to start.”

“Well, start at the beginning, besides the baby momma drama.” She smirks. “What is bothering you?”

“Well, besides the fact he’s my boss.” I close my eyes. “It sounds even worse when I keep saying it out loud.” She laughs at me. “What is everyone going to say?”

“Who is everyone?”

“Dad, Pops, to name a few.” I put my hands on my head. “My coworkers.”

“Don’t worry about your family. They will accept anyone who makes you happy,” she tries to tell me. “Your father was my boss also, and then I married him.”

“Mom, it’s different,” I tell her.

“How so?”

“Well, for one, he’s got a child,” I point out.

“Okay, well, if your father had a child, I would still have fallen in love with him,” she informs me, “even with the baby momma drama.” I inhale deeply. “The question is, are you really in love with him? Put everything aside, what you think people will say, what you are afraid of. How do you feel about him?”

I look at her, knowing this answer. “With one thousand percent certainty, I can say I’m head over heels in love with him.”

thirty

Caine

I pull into the parking lot later than normal because I knew if I came early, she would be here, and I’m not sure I’m ready to see her. I avoid even looking at her car while I walk over to the elevator.

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