“Michael … I thought he was a nice guy but …” She set her lips in a tight line. “Oh, never mind. It’s nothing. Probably just some rumors going around town.” She eyed her computer and smiled. “Your mother is down the hall.”
But I didn’t move. I stayed there, glued to the spot. First, it was Mason, and now, it was this woman at the goddamn assisted living home, telling me these rumors about Michael.
“What rumors?”
Her cheeks flushed. “Nothing. Maybe I’m mistaken.”
“What rumors?” I asked through gritted teeth. I knew exactly what rumors she was talking about, yet I needed to hear how much Linda had screwed things for us.
She gulped and drew her tongue across her teeth. “Just that …” She looked everywhere, except at me. “That he took advantage of you when you were younger and ruined his and his wife’s relationship.”
I flared my nostrils.
“If he took advantage of you when you were younger, that isn’t love, and I think you should—”
I slammed my palm down on the counter. “Not that it is any of your business, but our relationship is and has always been completely consensual and legal. I didn’t wreck anyone’s relationship. I didn’t do anything with him before I was eighteen.” My gaze flickered to her name tag. “Don’t believe all the rumors you hear,Carol.”
And with that, I walked right out of the lobby, feeling everyone’s eyes burn into my back. I tried to contain my anger, but when I reached Mom’s door, I had to take a deep breath. I wouldn’t let Linda destroy my relationship. Never in a million years.
Michael is mine now. Not yours, Linda, you bitch.
Mom sat on her bed, staring happily out the window at the bird feeder Michael and I had gotten her the other day. There was a bluebird perched on a wooden stick, munching on some seeds.
“Sweetheart,” Mom said. “How are you?”
“Doing good, Mom,” I said, sitting on the side of her bed.
“What are you up to this weekend?”
“I’m going to Michael’s work party,” I said.
“Work party?” she asked. “Things must be getting pretty serious between you and him.”
She raised a brow at me, and I smiled back. I hoped she’d get her memories back soon. It was difficult on me; it must’ve been even more difficult on her.
I rested my head against her shoulder and talked to her about Linda and the mess she’d gotten us into. Mom nodded along, giving me her advice to ignore the rumors—no matter how hard they got, those rumors were what people talked about because their lives were boring and had nothing better to chat about.
After a couple hours, James showed up and sat in his usual chair, watching the birds. I left them alone because I definitely didn’t want to interfere with whatever they did at this assisted living center together.
But instead of leaving, I walked down the hall toward Michael’s father’s room. I knocked on the door and didn’t see Michael’s father inside of the room. A nurse smiled at me.
“Looking for Mr. Bryne?” She nodded toward the garden. “A nurse took him out there a while ago.”
After I thanked her, I walked out into the garden and inhaled the morning scent. Michael’s father sat in a wheelchair in front of a small pond, the sun hitting his face. I took a deep breath and walked over to him, not knowing what I was going to say.
But I wanted to talk to him.
“Mia,” Mr. Bryne said, smiling at me. “How are you?”
CHAPTER15
MIA
Iglanced at the time on my phone and walked into Dunkin’, scanning the room to see if Serena was here yet. When I didn’t see her, I grabbed two coffees from the barista and found a table for us.
My talk with Mr. Bryne had taken longer than I’d expected it to. I planned to be there for fifteen minutes at the most. Though it might’ve been awkward between us, Mr. Bryne could talk. I’d ended up leaving the assisted living center at two p.m.—just enough time to gather my things back at home and get here.
We’d talked about everything we could. He told me embarrassing stories of Michael when he was younger and gave me some pictures from a photo album of Michael when he was in college. And, Lord, when I saw those pictures, I nearly died. I’d snagged myself a hottie.
