“Stop,” I interrupt him. Before I can think better of it, I press my lips to his. His breath catches, but then his hold on my neck has him pulling me closer as he kisses me more firmly. My fingers itch to touch him. To wrap around him again and truly kiss him. But there isn’t time for that.
With the strength of a thousand men, because that’s what it takes to pull back from him, I break our kiss. “Keep coming to me,” I whisper. “I’m… happy to be the one you want a hug from.”
Hansley’s lips curl a little and he nods. Slight, gentle bobs of his head. “Good. You’re my first choice. Expert hugger.”
Rolling my eyes, I pull back.
“Royal hugger,” he teases.
“No. You’d be the royal hugger. Hugging your queen.”
He chuckles. It’s quiet, but I don’t miss it. While my back is turned to him, I allow myself a smile. Shutting the screen of my laptop, I grab my baby blue thermal water container and my bag, since I don’t plan to come back to my office after practice.
We walk through the halls and out of the building in silence. I’m disappointed when we have to split directions and my feetpause as I awkwardly wonder what the proper way to say goodbye is.
Hansley squeezes my hand quickly and smiles. “I’ll talk to you later, yeah?”
Sighing, I nod. We chat nearly every night. “Yeah. Uh… have a good practice.”
He grins. “You too.”
Just as I reach the field, my phone rings. My heart jumps, wondering if Hansley is calling me for some reason. It’s ridiculous to think so, since he doesn’t have my number. I glance at my phone and frown at my mother’s name.
She knows I have practice right now. This better be important. I wave at Norman, letting him know I have to take this call as I drop my things and turn to answer.
“Hello?”
“Hey, baby,” she says and I momentarily smile. “Your reservation is all set. I’ve sent it to your email.”
Fucking email. Ugh. “What?”
“Are you all packed? Your flight is in a few hours.”
I frown further before saying, “You either have the wrong number or you’re going to have to start at the beginning of this conversation because I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, Lemon,” she says, laughing. “Your sister’s wedding.”
“We’ve already discussed this. I’m not going.”
“You need to. It’s important that you all go.”
“I don’t care how important it is. I’m not supporting her. You made your choice, and that’s fine. I get it. She’s your daughter. But I’m not going.”
“Honey, your grandmother will be there and she’s not doing well. I’m not sure how much longer we have with her.”
“You know,” I point out, pursuing my lips, “that’s a real shitty way to guilt me into this.”
“She wants to see all her grandkids, and I thought this was an easy enough event to make that happen since you’ll all be there.”
“Mom, I’m going to say this once, so listen to me. I’mnotgoing to support Saffron. I understand you think the three of us are being dramatic and whatever, but just as we’ve had to come to terms with the fact that you completely disregard how we feel about her, you’re going to have to accept that we don’t give a fuck what she’s doing or what’s happening to her. The only reason I’ll come is to see grandma. I’mnotattending the ceremony.”
“Lemon—”
“That’s it,” I cut her off. “I think it’s really shitty that you’re doing this. Especially to Steak. I think it’s really neglectful and says a whole lot that you’ve always put Saffron’s feelings and shenanigans before your other three children. Quite frankly, I’m done with anything having to do with her for the rest of my life.”
My mother doesn’t speak. “Now I’m going to finish my practice, which you damn well know I have right now, and still deemed my fucking sister’s stupid wedding important enough to interrupt me at work, then I’ll get on a fucking plane.”
Before she can answer, I hang up because I’m so fucking close to breaking down with angry tears. I truly hate that she just did that.
