“So?”
I shake my head. “Don’t you think it’s revealing you can’t think of a favor you’ve done for me since?”
“Blame yourself for being an independent child.” She shrugs. “Regardless, the house was really nice, you must admit. I had the place deep-cleaned before you showed up.”
“Right. And you removed the mattress from every bedroom.”
“I leftone, which was all you needed. I looked at the security feed, sweetie. You only had one girl over. And even if you had had a couple more, that bed would’ve been more than adequate.”
“Mother.”
“Don’t you ‘mother’ me. I’m merely pointing out you got exactly what you wanted.” She smiles smugly. “You wouldn’t have had your fun without me.”
“Fun? It was a disaster.” It’s irritating that she’s so happy when, every time I think about the episode, I inwardly writhe with shame.
“Why?” Her brow furrows. “Did you get her pregnant?”
“That would’ve been preferable to what happened.” An unplanned pregnancy would’ve been a shock, but nothing I couldn’t handle. Unlike Aspen’s betrayal.
Mom looks at me like I took a dive into a tar pit.
“She was using me!” I say, losing patience with both her and the fact that Aspen can still affect me. “She took all the things I gave her and auctioned them off for money soon afterward.”
“Count yourself lucky. You managed to escape the clutches of a stupid woman.”
“She’s not stupid, just manipulative!”
“Of course she is. What did I tell you about people who don’t add up?”
“Figure out why they aren’t adding up?”
“You weren’t listening.” She sighs. “When people don’t add up, it means one of three things—they’re lying, they’re stupid, or they’re crazy. She could’ve hung on to you until you naturally grew tired of her, instead of hurrying the process along. What an idiotic gold digger. Isn’t it common sense for those types to leech as much out of their men for as long as possible?”
I grind my teeth as Mom lectures me like I haven’t thought of all that already. I might’ve been gullible with Aspen, but I haven’t been lobotomized.
Mom continues, “Or are they too lazy to do even that? Young people these days have the work ethic of a gnat. No patience, no perseverance. Always wanting instant results.”
I block out her tirade about the younger generation. I’ve heard it all before. And it’s the same complaints she has with everyone else she disapproves of.
At least my mother is consistent.
But she’s wrong about Aspen. She doesn’t add up, but she isn’t stupid or lazy or crazy. It’s something else much more complicated. She’s a thousand-piece puzzle, and I haven’t even put together the edges.
I go to the kitchen to make some coffee—I’m going to need it. I’m pretty sure I can get Mom to leave by exaggerating the number of hours my housekeeping staff spends here cleaning my place, and lay it on thick about how chatty they are. Interacting with people is her idea of hell, and having chatty housekeeping staff around will fit the bill.
I just have to be sure that my concierge can get the best suite at whichever luxury hotel in the city she finds acceptable, since she hates slumming even more than people.
Chapter Forty-Six
Aspen
Bright sunlight pierces my eyes as I step outside the hall. I blink and squint as my vision adjusts. Before me is a huge green field. Countless college students are milling around. I scan the crowd to see if there’s anybody I know, and realize everyone is someone I went to college with. What are they doing here?
I look down at myself and see denim shorts and a sage-colored Napa Aquinas College T-shirt. I haven’t dressed like this in forever.
A warm hand holds mine, threading its fingers through my own. I look up and see Grant standing next to me, gorgeous in designer clothes and with a Harry Winston watch around his thick wrist. He presses his palm against mine, steady and calming.
“It’s starting,” Grant whispers, his breath fanning my earlobe and sending shivers down my spine.
