Page 48 of Her Nightshade

“He’s too much for you. How long has it been since you split from Dad? How long have you actually been on your own? I thought he was just some fun little rebound while you figured things out, but now he’s telling anyone who’ll listen that he’s in love with you.”

What the fuck is wrong with that?

“So what’s wrong with that? Don’t I deserve to be loved?” Ana snapped.

“Of course you do, Mom. But I feel like you’re losing yourself in him,” Sloane said after a pause.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I walked out into the hallway and into the kitchen, letting my footsteps creak on the old hardwood floor. They both went silent as I poured myself a glass of water, taking my time before turning to go into the living room.

“Good morning, Sloane,” I said with a smile, sliding my arm around Ana’s waist.

“Hey, Charlie,” she muttered, her gaze flicking to my shirtless chest before returning to Ana.What would Callan think of that?

“To what do we owe the pleasure?” I asked, glancing around. “Where’s your fiancé?”

Sloane crossed her arms. “In the car. I told him I wouldn’t be long. Just wanted to make sure my mom was still alive after not hearing from her,” she said sarcastically, her gaze narrowing on Ana.

Ana sighed heavily, putting a hand on her hip.

“Nothing to worry about when she’s with me,” I teased, though Sloane didn’t crack a smile.

“I’m leaving,” she said abruptly, uncrossing her arms and heading for the door. “Call me when you charge your phone, Mom. Bye, Charlie.”

The door slammed behind her and Ana sighed heavily again.

“She’s just being protective,” she said, as if she already knew I’d have something to say.

“Protective?” I repeated. “That’s what you call barging in here and basically telling you I’m not good enough? That I’mtoo much?”

“Charlie,” Ana said softly, her eyes narrowing just slightly. “She’s my daughter. She worries about me. She’s allowed to have her opinions.”

“Opinions?” I scoffed, shaking my head. “Ana, what she said wasn’t just an opinion—it was a warning. She thinks I’m dangerous for you, like I’m some…problem you’ve decided to take on.” My voice was rising and I could feel the anxiety building in my chest. “And you didn’t even stand up for me.”

Ana furrowed her eyebrows and cocked her head to the side. “Don’t put this on me,” she snapped. “Sloane has seen me at my worst, Charlie. She’s watched me get hurt and she’s scared it’s going to happen again. That’s where this is coming from.”

“So I’m just some ticking time bomb in her eyes? Something you need to be careful around?” My voice was sharper than I intended but I couldn’t stop myself. “How is she ever going to come around if you don’t push back? If you let her think it’s okay to—”

“Charlie, stop.” Ana’s voice cut through my rant like a knife and I froze. “You don’t get to tell me how to handle my daughter. She’s protective because she loves me. She doesn’t know you like I do, and she’s scared. But that doesn’t mean I love you any less or that I don’t defend you in my own way.”

I swallowed hard, guilt and frustration clashing in my chest. “I just feel like…she’s trying to sabotage us, Ana.”

“That’s not fair,” Ana snapped, her voice trembling. “She’s my child, Charlie. Of course she’s going to be wary of someone new in my life. It doesn’t mean she doesn’t want me to be happy. It means she cares. And you pushing me like this isnothelping.”

Her words hit me like a slap. I saw the flicker of hurt in her eyes and my chest tightened with panic. “Ana,” I said quickly, stepping forward and grabbing her hands. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just…” My voice cracked and I shook my head, feeling the weight of my worries crashing down. “I’m so scared of losing you. I can’t stand the thought of anything, or anyone, getting in the way of what we have.”

She sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly, but she didn’t pull her hands away. “You’re not losing me, Charlie. But you have to understand that Sloane is my daughter. She’s always going to be a part of my life, and if you want to be in it too, you have to find a way to coexist with her.”

I’m pushing her again. I’m making this worse. Stop, Charlie.

“I will,” I said desperately, squeezing her hands. “I swear, I will. I’m sorry, Ana. Please don’t be upset with me. Please.”

Her gaze softened, though the tension between us didn’t seem completely erased. “I’m not mad,” she said after a moment, her voice gentler now. “I just need you to trust me. Sloane will come around. She’s stubborn, but she will. I know she will.”

I nodded quickly. “I trust you. I do. I just…” I trailed off, my words faltering. “I’m sorry. I’ll do better.”

Ana exhaled and stepped closer, wrapping her arms around me. I buried my face in her shoulder, holding her tightly as if that could erase the mess I just made.

“I love you,” I murmured shakily into her neck.

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