you go talk to your mom while I go talk to Eddie? Let’s put an end to this.”

Libby chewed on her bottom lip and then shook her head. “Please. Let me handle it.”

He stared at her. His brain was screaming at him to get out of this relationship right now. It was moving into territory he couldn’t stomach. Not after Veronica. Never again would he be someone’s secret side piece.

It took every ounce of strength not to blow up and say things he would never be able to take back. Instead, he drew in a breath and uttered, “Fine.” He turned around and walked toward the door.

“Jason.” Libby rushed to catch up with him.

He opened the door and turned to glance at her. “It’s fine. Do whatever you want. I need to get to work.” He stepped outside, shut the door, and jogged to his SUV.

It wasn’t until he’d pulled away from her townhouse and out of sight that he stopped along the side of the road, put the SUV in park, and slammed his hands against the steering wheel. “Fuck.”

He couldn’t wrap his head around this situation. His head told him to run fast and far. Get away from Libby before she hurt him. She wasn’t worth it.

His heart told him she was fucking perfect for him and he needed to calm the fuck down and let her handle this mess in her time. He reminded himself they had only been dating for eleven days. He was putting expectations on her that weren’t warranted.

So what if her mother was a bigot? He couldn’t expect Libby to tell her parents to go fuck themselves after eleven days with a man, even if the sex was off the charts.

Jason needed to shake this off, pull himself together. She said she would handle it. He had to trust that she would. She’d made it clear from their first date that she didn’t like people doing things for her. He had to assume this fell under that category. She wanted to fight her own battles. She was a grown woman. She could find a way to make sure Eddie stopped sending gifts. And, please God, please tell me she will eventually put me first and tell her mom to jump in a lake.

Chapter 19

Libby was stomping furiously when she arrived at her parents’ house two hours later. She was mad at them, at Eddie, at Jason, and at herself. She couldn’t figure out why Jason was so insistent about her confronting her mom.

Obviously, she would eventually have to face her parents about Jason if things got more serious, but until then, it was not on her shortlist of things to do. That didn’t mean she didn’t have words for her mom.

She entered the house and went straight for the kitchen where she knew her mother would be prepping for dinner or some shit. The woman loved to cook and was often found in the kitchen, sometimes all day.

Libby knew her father would be at work, but he wasn’t the pushy one making her life miserable.

Maria lifted her gaze when she heard Libby enter and smiled. “What a pleasant surprise.” She wiped her hands on her apron. “Have you had breakfast? I can put some burritos together for you.”

“I’ve eaten, Mamá. I came to talk to you.”

“Okay. Let’s sit.” She pointed at the table and pulled out a chair.

Libby didn’t feel like sitting, but she reluctantly followed, trying to tamp down her aggravation. She decided to dive right in. “Mamá, you have to stop meddling in my life. Why would you invite Eddie to come for dinner without checking with me first?”

Her eyes went wide. “I thought you liked Eddie. I went to a lot of trouble to invite him.”

Libby shook her head. “No. You knew I didn’t like Eddie. We had one date. We didn’t connect. I told you that.”

Her mother harrumphed. “I didn’t remember you telling me that, and it would seem to me you need to give people more of a chance. He was a charming man last night. I liked him. I don’t understand why you’re so obstinate.” She gasped suddenly. “I hope you’re not going to tell me you’re not interested in men.” Her eyes widened as if that would be a horror worse than death.

Libby groaned. “Jesus, Mamá. What if I wasn’t? What if I wanted to date women? Would you disown me?” This was a good test.

Maria rubbed her hands on her apron, flustered. A tear came to her eye. “Is that it? Are you interested in girls, Libby?”

Libby rolled her eyes. “No, Mamá, that’s not it. But so what if it was? Truth is, I just don’t like Eddie.”

“You say that about everyone you date.” The woman pouted. Pouted.

“And that’s my prerogative. You have to stop meddling. I’m not going to settle for someone I’m not in love with. If the sparks aren’t there, then there’s no reason to keep dating someone.”

Her mother shook her head. “That’s not true. It’s not always love at first sight, Libertad. Sometimes you have to let it grow. Give someone a chance. Eddie is a perfect example. He’s kind, handsome, polite, and he’s obviously into you. He comes from good people. His parents have connections. They come from old money. Have you been to his house? It’s that brick mansion at the corner of Mason and Deerpark. You know the one?”

Libby gasped. She knew the house, if you could call it that and not a castle. She hadn’t realized Eddie owned it.

Her mother kept talking. “You would live a comfortable life with someone like him.”

That was enough. She didn’t care about Eddie’s damn money. Libby slapped her hands on the table, making her mother jump in her seat. “Stop it. Stop trying to fix me up. It’s not going to happen with Eddie. It’s your fault that he has false hope now, and I have to freaking go talk to him and tell him—yet again—that I’m not interested.”

“Watch your

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