The fist around my heart turned to lead. I didn’t want to care about her. I didn’t want to care what she thought about me. And Ireallydidn’t want to have this conversation right here and now.
“I wanted to make sure you were all right,” she admitted slowly, hesitantly. Maybe she wasn’t terribly certain. “I wanted to take you back to our place. I wanted to give you a chance to see how nice it could be. It’s a real upgrade from that apartment, and you won’t be able to afford it shortly. Not if you still plan on college.”
And there it was.
How did she still have the power to disappoint me?
“I’m fine,” I said, aware of Coop straightening and taking a step in my direction. I shook my head. I didn’t want them to intervene. “I have no interest in your new place or this new life you’ve been transitioning to for the last year or so. I didn’t have a place in it before, I don’t see wanting one now.”
“That’s not true,” Mom—no, Maddy said, her voice torn between sounding like she could barely hold back tears and at the same time her eyes were so angry. “You’re my daughter.”
“Could have fooled me.” I was so tired. “And if that’s all, I’m going to go now. You pulled me out before I got to finish my last class. And I have homework to do.”
Was that a flash of guilt?
Did I care?
I pushed away from the bench and headed for where the guys waited. Archie’s car or Jake’s, right now I didn’t care. Ian had ridden in with Jake for practice, and Coop had his car back at the school. We needed to get that…
“You can’t just walk away from me.”
“Why not?” I asked, not slowing down, and Coop was moving now. Archie had pushed away from his car, and Jake planted himself between Archie’s dad’s car, Archie and me.
I could have kissed him for having Archie’s back like that.
“Just putting into practice what you taught me, Maddy. Don’t like something, walk away from it. I’m sure you two are very busy doing…whatever.” I made it two more steps then paused and glanced at her. “I’m not a doll you get to decide you want to play with and discard when you’re bored. You’ve done that to me my whole life. When you feel like being a mom, you can be great. Most of the time, you’re not. I’m not letting you do that to me anymore.”
Turning away, I continued my trek to toward the guys.
“Francesca Elizabeth Curtis.” Her voice grated. “Don’t you dare take that tone with me.”
Yeah, the guilt died a swift death. I didn’t look back. “Sure, Maddy. I can say it politely if you want. Have a nice day.” Coop was there, and he slid an arm around my waist and headed me straight for Jake’s SUV.
The car door on Mr. Standish’s car swung open, and Archie passed us. “Keep going, get her out of here.”
Ian moved with Archie, but Jake opened up his passenger door, and Coop gave me a hand getting in. I dragged the seatbelt on and kept my gaze firmly away from Maddy. Edward. Any of it.
What happened to me?
She had her nose pushed in because she couldn’t even let me know she was leaving the country or dating or even truly moving until after she’d done it? Eyes closed, I leaned my head back against the seat.
“Hang on, Baby Girl. We’re going to drop Coop at his car, and then we’re going home.”
“Okay,” I murmured. Coop slid into the back seat, and the doors slammed. Raised voices carried from outside, but I only checked to make sure Archie and Ian were okay.
As Jake pulled out of the lot, it sunk in to me that Ian glared at my mother. And was yelling at her.
Oh.
“They’re going to be okay, right?”
“They’re going to be fine. Archie is making sure we can go without having them up our ass. And I want you home before they decide to head back to the apartment and find out they can’t get in.” Jake put a hand on my knee.
“Do you have your pain meds?” Coop asked. “Your backpack is here.”
“No, Archie had them.”
“Got it, texting him now.”