Page 104 of Man Seeking Woman

“I know who I am.” Growling, I spoke through clenched teeth. “I'm a man who knows what he wants. I'm a man who isn't afraid to stand up for the woman I love.”

“The woman you love?” My mother scoffed, letting out a condescending laugh. “You have no idea about love, August. There is no such thing as love, all you have are people who get brainwashed into thinking they feel something good. But it's not good, it's horrible. It's an endless ache that never goes away. Love is just a word people throw around to get others to do what they want.”

“You're wrong.”

“Am I? Who's the one with a pregnant girlfriend that took off? She knew better, August, she knew what I'm telling you. She doesn't belong here, she never belonged here. I did you a favor.”

“You did what you always you do, you did it for yourself. The truth is I don't deserve her. And you don't deserve me.” Hanging up on my mother, I stuffed my phone into my pocket and grabbed my keys.

Enough was enough. I was done with my mother and her overbearing need to control every aspect of my life. I was sorry that she was still hurting inside from what my father did to her. I felt bad that she thought love didn't exist because hers had failed.

But I knew one thing she didn't; I knew what it meant to love. And I wasn't going to lose it because she couldn't handle it.

There was only one place I could think of that Ella would go. Nothing was going to stop me from explaining myself and apologizing to her for what she was going through.

I couldn't imagine my life with anyone else. I loved her. And I wanted my family back. Nothing was going to come in between us.

Not now, not ever.