Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 146392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
She blushed. “Mom.”
Her mom shrugged, a grin tugging her lips up. “Well, I’ve never played at Sanctum, but I have spent many an evening sitting in the lounge gossiping while wearing fet wear. You know we should go shopping.”
“Absolutely not. Boundaries, Mom.” They needed to find a few of those.
“Well, was it bad? Did he not take care of you?”
“You know he did and it was…” Magical. Life changing. “The sex doesn’t matter.”
“But it does,” her mom insisted. “It’s the only thing you’ve been lacking. You’ve had an attentive boyfriend for a long time. What you lacked was a situation he felt like he could add to, not take away from. He couldn’t fit into your academic career. And then you joined the team and he was on his own team and couldn’t spend time with you the way he should. Now you’re in his world and he’s had to face the idea of losing you and what’s he doing?”
“Talking to my dad, for one thing.” Her stomach turned at the thought.
“I bet he handles your dad spectacularly. I bet your dad finally comes to the conclusion I came to a long time ago.”
“What’s that?” Lou asked.
“That you and TJ were one of those couples who were meant to be,” her mom said softly. “The road might not have been to your liking, but that part is over if you want it to be. If you can look past your ego and see what he’s offering you, you can start this part of your life, and baby, it is the best part. I’m not saying everything magically gets easy, but knowing you have someone watching your back, someone who will never leave you, who will always listen, that’s everything. Now I want you to look back and tell me what he kept from you all these years? It wasn’t love. He gave that to you. It wasn’t his help. He moved mountains to get you the things you needed. What did he deny you?”
Lou struggled to see through the tears that pooled in her eyes. “Sex. That was all. Just sex.”
Her mom nodded sagely. “And he’s offering you that now. He’s ready because he sees the place he can have in your life now. You have a man who thinks of you before himself. Grab him with both hands and honor that love. Take it into your soul, baby girl, and let it warm you for the rest of your life. I did. I never regretted it even once. Now, that is all I’m going to say. The rest is your decision, and I need you to understand if you decide you can’t risk it with TJ, I’ll honor that and I won’t ever bring it up again. The only thing I’ll ask you to do is to be kind to him. Maybe help rehab his image because it has to bug him that everyone sees him as the villain and you as the innocent thing he’s taking advantage of.”
She hadn’t thought about how it would be for him. She’d halfheartedly pushed back when their friends talked about how he treated her. She’d seen herself as a doormat he wiped his feet on every now and then. That was her problem, not his. That was her damage, and he’d done his best to help her.
“I’ll talk to them,” she promised. “And I’ll think about everything you’ve said. But there’s still the problem of distance. TJ works on the best team. We rarely get that team as backup. We would still be apart most of the time.”
Her mom stood up. “I would bet he’ll fix that problem for you, too. You need a keeper, my sweet girl, and I’m happy he’s finally decided he can do the job right. Give it some time. Give yourself some grace. I know it’s hard, but stop thinking about what it could cost you and start planning your future.”
Lou stood and hugged her mom. “I’ll try. It’s pretty scary.”
“Well, then it’s good you’re a badass,” her mom whispered. “Another reason for me to love this family we found. I know you think I wanted you to have some spectacular academic career where you stacked up honors, but this is a great adventure. This is what I wanted for you. Do I worry you’re in danger? Yes. But I never worry that you aren’t living a life that’s big enough for you. It’s big enough for the both of you. You were brave enough to put your life on the line for the world you want to live in. Be brave enough to risk your heart on a boy who’s literally loved you half his life.”
Lou’s heart clenched because she knew this talk should soothe something inside her, but it merely made her gut twist. Could they make it work? Could she believe him?