Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,170

you again.”

“I left him,” I grind out.

She scoffs and shakes her head at me in pity. “Don’t fool yourself, he left you way before you walked out that door.”

I plop down in a chair that’s supposed to be for guests in my office, almost defeated. She always plays to win no matter how deep she has to plunge in the dagger.

“Stay out of it,” I say, staring at my knotted hands.

“You’re my daughter.”

I know I’m not wrong this time. I know it.

Standing back up, I decide I’m not going to let her dictate my life. She doesn’t bring much joy to it anyway.

“I’m going to continue dating him, Mom. I’d like you and Dad to give him a chance and see how he’s changed, but if you can’t do that, fine. But know that I’m not changing my mind. I’ve decided to give him a second chance.” I cross my arms for effect and she stares me down, calculated and waiting for me to crumble under her narrowed eyes.

After a prolonged silence, I speak. “Now this is where I work, and I have to get back to it. If you want to talk about this further, call me.” I walk over and open my office door.

“Chelsea, I’ll leave because I’m not going to make a scene, and everyone knows you need the money, but you can engrave this into stone. That boy is going to ruin you—again.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Mom, he’s a man now, not a boy.”

She shakes her head and leaves, stopping just after she’s cleared my doorway. “You can tell your father. I don’t want to upset him.”

“Will do.”

She walks down the hall and I lightly swing my door shut, even though I want to slam it for all it’s worth.

Am I the only one who can feel the tsunami brewing?

Chapter Twenty-Four

“Whoa, what a mama bear.” Victoria cringes while she peeks into my door.

“A grizzly to be precise. She’s not being protective.”

“Oh, I think she is. She’s worried.” She helps herself to a seat and of course Hannah is right behind her.

“I’m going to take the chairs out of my office,” I grumble.

Hannah smiles sweetly, one that says, ‘no you’re not, all is well.’

“Hey, it doesn’t matter what your mom thinks, it matters what you think.” Hannah’s hand reaches over and grabs mine.

“Exactly,” Victoria says.

“Speaks the woman whose mom loves her man.”

“Not always.” Victoria shrugs. “My mom hated Pete.”

I stare blankly at her.

“Yeah, okay I see your point.” She brings her fingers to her lips and zips. Even pretending to throw away the key. Is this what happens to people after they have kids?

“Truly I don’t care, it’s just going to make it uncomfortable at my cousin’s wedding.” I slide my hand out from Hannah’s and type my password into my computer.

“What are you going to do after that?” Hannah asks.

“I’m going to disown my mom.”

Hannah and Victoria glance at one another.

“Seems viable,” Hannah says. “Or you could try to let them see the good in Dean.”

“They’ve never seen the good in Dean. Actually” —I hold my hand up—“they weren’t that upset when they thought he was going to be a number one draft pick. After he hurt his shoulder and they figured out the money train vanished, that’s when they decided they really hated him.”

“They were okay with you marrying him at eighteen?” The judgment in Victoria’s tone is clear and she’s probably put herself in my mom’s position in her head. Jade marrying someone right after she leaves for college. I get it, shortly after we were married I made myself a promise that if we ever had a daughter, she’d know all the mistakes I made so she didn’t repeat them. Not like I really have to worry about that anyway.

“No. Not at first. They warmed up once they found out about his bank account prospects. Then they were down on him again.” I click on some emails not really in the mood to rehash all this family drama.

My phone dings in my purse.

“Probably Dean.” Hannah side glances Victoria.

I pull it out of my purse and sure enough, she’s right.

Dean: Glad to see the wicked witch of the Midwest is still kicking.

Me: Please I’ve tried to drown her in a bucket of water. Nothing.

Dean: LOL…need me to come over?

Me: Nah, the girls are already in my office.

I glance up at the two sets of eyes focused on me.

“I think we should go to Torrio’s tonight.” Hannah nods like it’s already a done deal.

Me: They’re