36. Lottie #3
My mom stares at the floor, and I start to doubt she’ll explode. Her expression is completely foreign to me and heavy. “Lottie, I was only trying to protect you,” she says with a hitch in her voice.
I tuck in my chin and peer at her. “Protect me from what?”
Her hard expression softens, sadness lurking behind her eyes. “I don’t need to go into all the details now. Just know I was young once too.”
I’ve never felt sorry for my mom, but a tinge of sympathy rises in me. Whatever happened to her definitely had an impact. She looks at Ty. “I don’t like this. I know your type, and you’re clearly going to break her heart and ruin her life.”
“I won’t promise not to hurt her,” he says calmly. “Promises like that are easy to say and easy to break.”
Mom’s mouth tightens, and my heart sinks.
What is he even saying?
“But I will promise this,” he continues, not breaking eye contact with her. “I will never make her earn my love. I will never walk away when things get hard. And if she decides tomorrow she doesn’t want me anymore, I’ll let her go—because all I want is for her to be happy.”
He breaks eye contact with my mom and turns to me. My heart nearly stops when he adds, “That’s how I won’t break her heart. By treating her like her happiness matters more than my own.”
A bomb could explode in the room, and no one would flinch.
I desperately want to fling my arms around Ty and kiss him, but my mom glares like we’re two teens in over our heads.
I’m not sure she’ll ever accept I’m living my own life.
Her lips roll in slowly, and she nods several times, as if the bobbing motion soothes her. After a beat, she simply says, “Okay.”
“Okay?” I repeat, unsure what she’s okay with.
“Yes, okay.” She nods faster. “You’re an adult, as you so rudely pointed out, so I’m getting out of the way.
” She wags her finger at Ty and back to me.
“But let’s be real here for a moment. You won’t find anywhere to take those goats.
Why don’t you leave them here until you find a place? It’s their home too.”
I crinkle my nose. “Since when do you care about the goats?”
“I don’t care about them. I just know the trouble they cause. I can imagine if you try to board them somewhere, they’ll get into trouble, and it’s all over social media—”
“Ah!” I cut her off but then stop. She’s worried the goats will bring public drama.
Shaking my head, I bite my tongue while Ty smiles at me, as if to help me stay quiet.
My mom will never change. That doesn’t mean I can’t change how I react to her and how I let her arrogance affect me.
Today, I’m choosing to stay unbothered. “Okay, Mom, deal. I’ll leave the goats here.
I guess it doesn’t hurt to stay in the guest cabin until I have a new place, but it’s going to be sooner than you think. ”
“Fine.” Her voice ticks up, like she’s taking control of the conversation again.
“I have meetings tonight and have to leave again, so make sure you get them back in the pen.” She starts walking away but pauses at my doorway.
Without looking back, she says, “If you need a reference for work, I’m happy to help with…
” her voice trails off, and she murmurs, “Just give Brett a call, and he’ll get you what you need. ”
“Sure.” My voice is so quiet I doubt she hears it. She’s never been generous with her time and has already turned on her heel and headed down the hall. Once her footfalls hit the steps, the tension finally drains from my body, and I sag onto the edge of my bed with an exaggerated groan.
Plopping down next to me, Ty pulls me into him. I don’t resist, practically crashing into his chest. “Are you okay?”
I nod against his chest. “Thank you for not letting me run away with my goats like a crazy person. I was so stressed out.”
“It’s what I’m here for.” His lazy smile is back, as if assuring me our lives will be smooth from here on out.
“That was emotionally exhausting. I didn’t expect her to speak to you like that—or you to her. You were amazing. She was terrifying.”
“Ah, she was easy. She didn’t even throw anything.”
“Yet.”
He laughs as he hooks a finger under my chin.
I grin as his eyes soften in the way that pulls me to him, and I lean until our lips press together.
Despite the stress of the day, the kiss is light and playful, and I can feel him smile.
When we pull back, he locks eyes with me.
“I didn’t mean to take over. Are you sure you’re okay staying here? ”
“Yeah,” I say softly. “Mom and I are good at faking nice to each other, and you said if she’s rude to me, you’ll take care of her. I guess I will just call you if anything happens.”
“You know,” he says, looking down at me, his eyes dancing, “you’re welcome to stay with me at the Four Seasons. I’m here for a few more days. I can sleep on the floor.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Absolutely not. I don’t like the idea of leaving my goats because they’re so naughty. I need to be here.” I crash back onto my bed, and he stretches out beside me, his arm wrapping behind my shoulders like it’s always belonged there.
“So,” I say with a sigh, “what do you want to do now?”
“This.” He smiles down at me as he wraps his other arm around me, and I snuggle closer. Outside, the goats are probably eating chunks of the porch for lunch, but I don’t care because I’m wrapped up in the moment.
I smile from the inside out. I stood up to my mom. Ty and I are together. And I’m finally making my own decisions. Good or bad doesn’t matter—only that they’re mine. I glance up at Ty, the best decision I’ve ever made.
“Yeah, let’s do this.”