For a while, I let myself believe it meant she was proud of me, too.
When that relationship collapsed, so did whatever fragile bridge that existed between us.She didn’t call.Didn’t check in.Didn’t ask if I was okay, or how I was sleeping, or whether I was eating anything besides humiliation.She vanished the way she always did when I stopped being useful to her narrative.
And now—now she was flying in to watch my cousin marry my ex, stepping neatly back into my life like she hadn’t abandoned it at the first sign of inconvenience.Like I was just another backdrop to her appearance, another event she deserved access to.
The worst part wasn’t the anger.
It was the small, humiliating ache beneath it—the part of me that still noticed she was coming at all.That still wanted her to see me.
To choose me.
To stay forme.
Mama V clicked her tongue.
“That woman always took after her no-good daddy.”She turned to me, her expression softening.“Don’t you fuss about her.You hear me?You’ve built somethin’ real all on your own.”
I nodded, though the familiar knot of tension had already settled back into my shoulders.
From down the hall, I heard Jaxon’s voice—low, serious.I didn’t catch the words, but just knowing he was there grounded me more than I expected.
Mama V patted my hand.“You’re strong, Savannah.Always have been.”
I inhaled slowly, bracing myself.
Tonight was going to be a lot.
By the time Jaxon came back into the kitchen, his expression had shifted and his eyes found mine first before shifting to Nerissa and Grandma.
“As fun as this has been, ladies, I gotta head out.Duty calls.”
“Oh no, you don’t,” she said, already reaching for his hand.“You can’t just breeze in here, shake my granddaughter’s world, and leave without proper goodbyes.At the very least, give an old woman a hug.”
Jaxon laughed, genuine and warm, and bent slightly so she didn’t have to crane her neck.“It was an honor meeting you, Mama V.Truly.”
She eyed him like she was sizing up a diamond.“Mm-hmm.I like you.You got manners.And broad shoulders.”
“Grandma!”
“Don't mind me, baby.”
Nerissa snorted.
Jaxon grinned.
He hugged Nerissa quickly.“Later, Rissa.”
“Later, pretty boy,” she shot back.
Then his attention turned fully to me.“I’ll see you later, trouble.”
“I’ll walk you out,” I said, already moving.
Nerissa’s smirk followed us all the way to the door.
“I’ll just be here,” she called sweetly, “not listening.”
I rolled my eyes.“Shush.”
