“Let it go.” I wave my hand in frustration as I drag my cell phone out of my back pocket. This conversation is going nowhere.
“I think–”
“Stop.” My eyes narrow into slits as I drop my phone down to my side. She might be foolish enough to think he could be interested in me, but I’m not. “Jake is a flirt and a serial dater. He always has been, and even if he decided to settle down, it wouldn’t be with me. It would be with someone like Amanda. The beauty queen type.” I wave my hand over myself. “Not the gym rat type.”
“I think you’re wrong.”
“Do you remember when Jake’s friend, Spencer, stayed here?”
“Of course.”
“That weekend, Jake said some not-so-pleasant things to me and about me behind my back to Spencer. He made it clear, crystal clear, that I wasn’t someone he wanted to spend time with.”
“What did he say?”
“He said I was plain, boring, and a child.” God, those words still hurt after all this time.
“Emily….” My mom’s voice is soft and filled with pity.
God, I hate pity.
I raise my hand. “Let me finish. I’m not going to say that it didn’t hurt my feelings, because I was trying to fit in, but I got the message loud and clear. He’s not interested in us being friends or anything more than that.”
“Fine.” Her eyes shine with tears as she slumps into her chair and glances away from me. “I’m sorry that happened.” Justas quickly, she grabs my hand and meets my gaze. “And I’m sorry I brought it up. I had no idea.”
She shakes her head and instantly sobers as the unshed tears are replaced with cold steel and determination. “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have let him come here.” She lets go and snatches her phone off the table. “I’ll make sure he’s not here anymore.”
“Mom, don’t do that.” My heart sputters in my chest. I’m too exhausted for this. “He thinks the world of you, and I don’t want him thinking I’m losing my shit over an insult from four years ago. He said it. I heard it. It’s not a big deal.”
Of course, my mom wants to go into Super Mom mode. But that’s the last thing I need.
Her jaw is clenched as she rubs her non-injured hand across her face. “Fine. I’ll let it go, but I don’t like it. I’ve let that boy into my house countless times, and that was based upon the belief that he was a good person. Not someone who insults one of my children.”
I chuckle and shake my head. “I love you, Mom. You’re the best. You’re recovering from shoulder surgery, and you’re still ready to go toe to toe with the enemy.”
“Just wait until you have those kids. You’ll understand.”
“One day.” That’s so far in the future, but there’s no point in even discussing it. I scan my phone for messages, responding to one from Bella.
Bella: I wanted to tell you this before you heard it from anyone else. Dominic and I are together. Together.
Holy shit. A smile breaks out across my face as all the exhaustion shoots out of me. It’s about damned time. I scan the rest of the message, checking the date. Crap. She sent the message last night. And I missed it.
Me: That’s great. I told you. I can’t wait to hear all the details. Well, maybe not all the details.
If I can’t be happy, the next best thing is to watch my best friend find her happily ever after. I can’t wait to see them together. Dominic had always had Bella’s back, and everyone knew they were destined to be together. Except them.
I stride toward the refrigerator. “Do you need anything?”
“Grab me a water.”
When I reach the refrigerator door, my cell phone rings. It’s Ruby. “What’s up?”
“Brock is messaging Bella again.”
“How?” My heart squeezes in my chest. Brock is such a loser. Like Dominic wants to deal with Bella’s ex the day after they officially get together.
Actually, he might enjoy it.
