Page 82 of The Fake WIfe Playbook

Before she can say another word, I shift the conversation.

“Let me make one thing clear,” I say, fierce and unflinching. “If Jack ever wants out—if things get too hard—he has a place with us. He can move in anytime he wants.”

Silence. She didn’t expect that. She’s fuming, and I don’t care. I love my mother, but I have to keep her at arm’s length. My brother will always have a home with me.

“You can keep trying to stir shit up,” I add, final and firm. “But I’m not sending you a dime. And I’m done letting you get between me and the people I love.”

She lets out a bitter, ugly laugh. “You’ll regret this, Katie.”

“Goodbye, Mamma.” I don’t even flinch when I hang up. But my hands are shaking. My heart is pounding. Still—I’ve never been more sure of where I stand.

“Are you okay?” Finn asks from the doorway.

“Yeah. But Mamma and I aren’t. How much did you hear?”

“Some of it. Do you want to send her money? I don’t want to come between you and your mother.”

“Maybe some mothers were meant to be left behind,” I say. I take a breath. Now, if only I could get my heart to believe it.

I stand, and Finn pulls me into his arms.

“I wish I could fix it.”

“I appreciate it. But if she wants a relationship with me, there are new rules.”

“Speaking of rules,” he smirks, “there are a few I’d like to break.”

“Oh, yeah?” I tease. “Like what?”

“Well, I’d like a trip around the world.”

“Would you now?” I chuckle.

“Oh yeah,” he mutters, just before his lips cover mine.

Everything is going well—too well. And knowing my luck, I’m just waiting for something to blow up again.

38

FINN

BEING SET UP IS LIKE A GAME MISCONDUCT

OffsideAplayer crosses the opponent's blue line before the puck—illegal play. This is when I cross a line with Kate…

I received a text. Tess is asking to clear the air, and in light of how she’s treated Kate, I agree because I think I can get her to move on. And when she does, she’ll meet someone new and leave us alone.

And true to her word, she is waiting at our old spot, the same little corner café downtown, the one we used to go to on Maine Street. Mikael’s wife owns it, and I should have known better than to agree to meet with my ex in a place where someone might recognize me.

But on the other hand, I’m not trying to hide our meeting.

She’s sitting there, playing with the straw in her frappe, and as always, her perfume hits me long before I’m within speaking distance. I see the malicious glint in her eyes, and I know—I shouldn’t have come. But I did, and it’s too late to back out now.

Since Tess’s best friend is married to a fellow player, there are going to be times we cross paths. I can’t ban her from games or group hangouts. I have no way of knowing where she might pop up.

“Tess,” I say, sliding into the chair across from her. I already regretthis. But when she said she was having a breakdown, I felt obligated. “Make this quick.”

Her smile doesn’t touch her eyes. “No hello? No ‘how’ve you been’? I thought we were better than that.”