Page 35 of Creed

I don’t know what was wrong with me.

He was the love of my life. He was the one I measured all the others against, including Brian.Especially Brian. Eventually, I had no choice but to stop. There was no point in it anyway. There was never really any comparison, and deep down, I knew there never would be.

I rubbed my hands over my face and groaned quietly.

I made myself believe that it was best to leave the past in the past, but now, I wasn’t so sure.

The papers on my desks were taunting me.

I knew I needed to get them all graded and posted, but I didn’t dare move. If I did, I might have to admit that I was spiraling.

I was starting to completely unravel when my cell phone started to ring. I grabbed it out of my purse and groaned when I saw that it was my mother calling.

Perfect timing.

I sighed and answered, “Hey, Mom.”

“So, Brian has a new girlfriend.”

“Yeah, I’m good. Thanks for asking. So nice to know you care.”

“Oh, hush. You know I care.” She took a breath, then jumped right back in. “I just got off the phone with Chrissy, and she was pretty upset. She said he didn’t even tell them about her, and then, he forced them to spend an entire weekend with her.”

“Well, he didn’t exactly force them.” My mother had a tendency to be a tad dramatic, and I often shared the flare, especially when I was talking to her. I couldn’t seem to help myself. “They were supposed to be with me and chose to go with him.”

“I know that hurt your feelings, dear, but you can’t exactly blame them for wanting to go to the lake. You know they love it, and after everything they’ve been through, they deserve a break.”

“They could’ve had a break with me. I was going to take them to a movie and stop by that new taco food truck Austin’s been wanting to try, but neither of them was interested. They were determined to go to their father’s, and that was that.”

“Well, that’s silly. They would’ve enjoyed the movie and food truck.” There was no missing the disappointment in her voice when she added, “They need to start spending more time with you. This whole shunning you thing and making you out to be the bad guy is growing a little old.”

“A little,” I scoffed. “It’s been months, and they’re just now starting to come around.”

“Well, this new girlfriend might change some things.” She let out a breath before adding, “Sounds like she’s a real winner. Chrissy said she was a Barbie with a bad attitude. Whatever that means. I swear. The man’s got some nerve.”

“It’s been a year, Mom,” I replied flatly. “He has every right to move on.”

“Hmm. I guess.” She didn’t sound convinced. “Still seems fast. I figured he’d be too busy pining over you to chase some twenty-something in a string bikini.”

“He was done pining a long time ago.”

“Maybe so, but that doesn’t change the fact that Chrissy doesn’t care for this girl. That’s all I need to know.”

“That’s hardly a fair assessment.”

“Oh, I think it’s plenty fair. Chrissy is a wonderful girl, and she’s a great judge of character. If she doesn’t like this woman, there’s probably a good reason.”

“You’re right.”

“I usually am.”

I didn’t have the energy to argue with her. Not when my mind was still replaying every look Jameson and I had exchanged earlier. It was still so fresh on my mind, and it was hard not to be pulled back into the moment. Mom must’ve sensed that something was up because she asked, “Hey, are you okay?”

God, I hated that she could pick up on my mood from two counties away. I dropped my head into my hands as I grumbled, “I’m fine.”

“You know I’ve always been able to tell when you’re lying.”

“I’ve just had a long day. That’s all.”