Chastity shakes her head with an eye roll. “And I would feel bad if she didn’t think making me cry was so much fun. If she was more like her dad, I wouldn’t hate her.”
There’s no point in going on because she’s right. However, I think that Everly’s in deep pain, and lashing out is the only way to get through it.
“Speaking of, have you seen Derek lately?” Nina asks in a seemingly nonchalant way that isn’t at all nonchalant.
She knows damn well I haven’t. “Nope.”
“Really? I saw him yesterday and he mentioned you. He was saying something about coming by to catch up.”
I glare at her. “I haven’t seen or heard from him, but I didn’t expect to.”
Nina nods with a smile. “I see. Well, in this town it’s bound to happen.”
Chastity looks between us. “Am I missing something?”
This girl is too smart for her own good. There’s no way with Nina’s subtlety of an elephant marching through the store that Chastity isn’t going to catch on. Nina is hoping for some kind of grand reunion that I’m not ready to think about. Right now, I’m fine with friends. Friends are safe and leave no room for hurt.
“Nope.”
“Really? Because I feel like there’s something you’re both talking about that I don’t know about.”
“Just that your mama—”
“Doesn’t really want to see Dr. Hartz because his daughter is mean to you,” I cut her off with my brows raised.
My friend is going to die today, it seems.
“Right. I would believe that, but you said that I should be nice…”
“Don’t you think we should set your mama up?” Nina says out of nowhere.
“Set her up?”
“Yes, like on one of those online dating things.”
“No,” I say before this gets out of hand.
Nina grins and her devious little mind is hard at work. “I think it’s a great plan, Teagan. You’re clearly ready to start dating.”
“Clearly? What’s clear about it?”
“You mentioned the other day something about a man, didn’t you?”
I mentioned Derek, not dating some random guy. “Nope.”
“I think it’s a great idea, Mom.”
Of course she does. “I’m fine with my life as it is.”
“What about dating someone local?” Nina appears to be focusing on sorting the plates, but she’s not fooling me.
Dating always ends up the same way. I find a guy who’s not my type, I’m forced to sit with him for hours, and go home and eat my emotions. The last guy Nina set me up with was the worst and I vowed to never let her interfere again.
“There’s no one local and I really don’t want to date anyone.”
“Why not?” Chastity interjects.
“Because there’s no point.”
“You’re going to die alone. Like a spinster in my romance novels.” Nina used to be my friend, until today when I had to kill her. “Do you want to be a spinster?”
“I want to beat you with your own arms,” I say with a fake grin. “Aren’t you single?”
“I’m not a spinster. I’m more of a modern woman making choices.” She smiles at me, and Chastity laughs.
“Well,” Nina says as she claps her hands together. “Let’s make good choices and get you a date!”
Chastity squeals and grabs my phone. “I already made her an account. We’ve got this!”
“I hate you both,” I grumble and rip the phone back from her. “At least let me look first.”
“Deal, as long as you promise to try and date at least one.” Nina’s fingers grip the top of the phone and she stares me down.
Maybe they’re right. Maybe I need to try and see if there’s someone out there. If I want to move past this silliness with my old feelings coming back, this would be a good way to start.
I release a heavy sigh and nod. “I promise.”
“Good.” I see the pride in Nina’s eyes.
Chastity wraps her arms around me and squeezes. “I want you to be happy, Mom.”
I look down at her, my heart filled with so much love for this girl who has brought me so many unexpected changes that have fulfilled me in so many ways. “You make me happy, Titty.”
We all burst out laughing and she rolls her eyes. “Never call me that again.”
I shrug. I can’t let her have all the fun. Between these two it’s a wonder I haven’t pulled all my hair out. All I need is my mother to complete the party.
“Girls!” She yells from the back.
Jesus. I’m being punished for my past sins, that’s all I’ve got.
“Talk about looking the Devil in the eye…”
“Be nice,” Chastity warns me as though I’m the kid.
Mom and I have barely spoken since my outburst at dinner. It’s been very…polite. My father probably laid into her and forced her to back off.
I’ve wondered, if they knew the truth about why Keith relinquished his rights, would their opinion of me change? I’m not sure and that keeps me playing the role they’ve cast me as and finding solace in my choice. I never want my daughter to be ashamed that I’m her mother. Her father is in a public role and that tape would’ve made headlines. She lives in a small town that would chew on the scandal for years. People might talk about me now, but Chastity would never escape that level of embarrassment.
“I’m always nice.”
Nina snorts. “We’re back here, Mrs. B.”
“There you are.” She sighs as though she’d searched high and low. “I have some new furniture in the truck that needs to be unloaded.”
“Mom, we’re running out of room.”
“Then we’ll have to make room.”
Great. She should star on an episode of Hoarders. The only excuse she has is that she sells her junk.
We all start to move toward the front, but she grabs my arm. “You stay with me.”
“I should help—”
“They can manage, we need to talk.”
Mom tosses her coat on the back
