Page 38

PATRICK

The trip had been fucking horrible, but showing up at my house, knowing my mother was inside waiting for me, was almost just as bad.

I had escaped her matchmaking for a few days, but that didn’t mean I was in the clear.

No doubt, she had already set up a few dates for me while I was gone. How much more could I take?

She was out the door and on the porch before I got out of Raven’s truck. “Fucking hell.”

Raven laughed at me. “Serves you right for trying to escape your family.”

“I don’t recall you having the best relationship with anyone in your life.”

“No, but they also aren’t around to show up on my doorstep and bug the hell out of me.”

She had a point there. I flung the door open and got out, pulling my crutches out of the back. I was already trying to come up with ways to get her off my back before she even opened her mouth.

Luckily, Edu pulled up beside me, staying my execution for another few minutes. On the other hand, Edu was here and that could be just as bad for me. He got out, slamming the door as he marched over to me. I prepared for the hit, but it never came.

“Everything good?” I asked, watching him warily.

“Harper’s taking her home right now and getting her settled.”

I nodded, unsure of what else to say. Except… “Listen, about what I did?—”

“It’s all good. Thank you… I mean, if you hadn’t called in everyone, things might not have gone so well.”

“So, you’re not going to hit me?” I asked, grinning just in case that was still on the agenda.

“Not today. You’re too fucking weak anyway. You know what they say about kicking a man when he’s down.” He glanced at my mom, giving her a smile and nod. “Besides, I wouldn’t want to kick your ass in front of your mother.”

“I appreciate that.” And I was fucking serious. The last thing I needed was my mom getting even more worried about me.

“Anyway, when Eden’s settled, you might want to stop by and see her.”

“I doubt she wants to see the man she associates with that fucking hole.”

“You’re her hero,” he grinned. “When she finally spoke, she asked where the man was who saved her. Of course, that was after she asked for Raven, but you were still included.”

My heart warmed at that. At least something good came out of the whole fucking thing. She was safe with Edu and Harper, and he seemed to finally be accepting that.

“I’ll see when I can stop by.”

“Don’t wait too long. I would hate for her to think you don’t want to see her.”

In truth, I didn’t know that I was ready for it. I could still smell the stench from that fucking hole, and I didn’t want her to see that on my face when I met her. But she was just a kid, and if she wanted to see me, I’d make sure I was ready.

I nodded and headed for the steps, ready to take on my mom. Chase pulled out, leaving me all alone. Fuck, I really wanted to send her away.

“Hey, Mom.”

“How was work?”

I really didn’t want to talk about it. “Fine.”

“I can’t believe they would send you on a job in this condition. What if you had hurt yourself?”

“It’s fine, Mom. It was for one of the guys.”

“And you still did it? Did you even get paid?”

She didn’t get it, so I didn’t bother arguing with her. There was just no point. “So, what’s for dinner tonight?”

“About dinner…”

Nervousness skittered over her face as she glanced behind her. I made my way up the steps, taking it easy since sitting had made me stiff. Whatever was going on, I wasn’t in the mood for it.

“Mom, not tonight.”

“What do you mean?” she chuckled, grabbing my bag from me as I reached the top step.

“I mean, I’m not in the mood for any shit tonight.”

“Language,” she chastised, treating me like I was five. “You’d better run upstairs and clean up.”

I paused, slowly turning to face her. “Clean up for what?”

“Well, when you called and said you were on your way home, I was at the store, and I happened to be talking to Mira Jefferson.”

That name sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place her. “Okay…”

“And she said how fun it would be to get together for dinner sometime.” She turned suddenly on her heel and headed inside, leaving the story there.

“And?” I snapped, chasing her down as much as I could on crutches.

“And I said that I already had all this food and it would be a waste if I made so much and it didn’t get eaten.” She turned, her fingers twisting nervously together as I glared at her.

“You didn’t.”

“I—”

“Why would you invite them here? It’s my fucking house!”

“Language!” she chastised again, tears brimming her eyes. “I know it’s your house, but it’s big and it’s empty. I just thought it would be nice to have some company.”

“You should have asked first.”

“Well, I didn’t, and now they’re on the way over.”

She scurried into the kitchen, making herself busy so she didn’t have to discuss this further.

“Mom, you can’t keep doing this shit.”

“I’m not doing anything.”

“You know exactly what you’re doing. You’re trying to manipulate me.”

Her gaze snapped up to meet mine and anger flushed her face. “I’m not manipulating you. I simply wanted to enjoy a meal with another family.”

“And set me up with their daughter in the meantime.”

“Look, they have a lovely daughter, Joelle, and I just thought?—”

“You just thought you would fucking interfere in my life and decide I needed a new bride. And any ‘ol bride will do, right?”

I knew the look that crept across my mother’s face. I had pushed too far, and now she was pissed. Which was fucking hilarious since this was my house. But still, she was being intrusive to the point that I wanted to kick her out, and I would never do that because she was my mother.

“Now, you listen here, young man. You may be grown up, but I am still your mother?—”

“You’re still my mother and you’re acting like you have any control over my life.”

“I’m trying to make sure you’re happy.”

“By invading my privacy? By coming here uninvited and pushing your way into my business?”

Her lips pursed as she ducked her head. “I didn’t realize you didn’t want me here.”

Fuck, now I’d done it. “Mom?—”

She tossed down the rag she was holding and scurried toward her room.

“Mom—”

I hobbled over to her room and watched as she grabbed her bag and started packing her things. Tears streamed down her face as she sniffled, trying not to break down. I was such a shit son.

“Mom, please stop.”

“I didn’t mean to ruin everything. I just wanted to help.”

“You can’t help what doesn’t need to be fixed,” I sighed.

But she ignored me and turned for the closet, grabbing the few dresses that were hanging. She didn’t even bother to fold them neatly. Instead, she balled them up and tossed them in her bag.

I hopped over to her and placed my hand on top of hers. “Mom…stop packing.”

“I shouldn’t have come.” She wiped the tears from her face and sniffled.

“I’m glad you came.”

She huffed out a laugh as more tears fell. I was going to hell. “The only thing I’ve done since the moment I got here is make you miserable. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“You were thinking that you wanted to take care of me. And I’m sorry I haven’t made you feel welcome. I’m just not used to having someone in my space.”

“I really wasn’t trying to push. I just…I thought it would be nice.”

“For me to meet a woman and fall desperately in love with her?” I hedged.

“I know it’s silly.”

“It’s not silly for you to want that, but you’re forgetting who I am.”

“Oh, honey,” she chuckled. “I haven’t forgotten who you are. You are an eternal bachelor, destined to leave me with no grandkids to enjoy my final years.”

“That’s slightly depressing,” I muttered.

“Well, what can I say? I long to hold a baby in my arms and smother it with kisses.”

I cringed at the image. That was the last thing I wanted. If anything, I avoided kids like the plague. For others, they were fine, but all that responsibility that came with caring for another human just wasn’t something I was interested in.

“Just…lay off a little, okay? I like having you here, but I really don’t want to fend off women left and right.”

She sighed, glancing at the clock. “Well, what are we going to do about tonight? I already invited them over.”

“And I suppose it would be rude to call them and cancel.”

My mother knew me all too well, that I would do it in a heartbeat, but for her, I would suffer through it.

“It’s just one dinner.”

“Yeah,” I huffed in amusement at the hopeful look on my mom’s face. “Just one dinner.”