Page 113 of The Most Perfect Wrong

“Destroy our relationship? What relationship? We’ve never had one, Mom,” I snap, frustration spilling over. And shit, I vaguely remember her making a comment about Brad in the beginning, but hell, that was five years ago—I was barely twenty-three. She’s right. I didn’t listen. I never have.

“Not because I haven’t wanted one,” she says softly, her voice cracking just enough to make my heart ache.

A fresh flood of tears streams down my face. “I’m sorry, Mom. God, I’m the worst. I’ve been so mad at you, all this time. I blamed you for everything.” My voice falters, and I shake my head as the weight of my own stupidity crashes down on me.

She hugs me fiercely. “It’s alright. All I’ve ever wanted is this. For you to come back to me, to forgive me.”

I nod, pulling back. “Why did you stay with dad all those years?”

She shrugs. “I was scared. I didn’t want to be a single mom, raising two girls on my own. I didn’t want to get a job or worry about how we’d pay the bills.”

“Was Dad mean to you?” I ask, even though part of me doesn’t want to know.

“Not in the way you mean. He lied and cheated. That’s not exactly nice, but no, he wasn’t cruel. Your father’s a decent man, all in all—he’s just a terrible husband.” She laughs softly, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “But he loves you girls. He always paid child support and alimony, and he never gave me a hard time after the divorce.”

She pauses, concern softening her features. “Was Brad mean to you?”

I nod, swallowing hard. The words stuck in my throat, but I force them out. “Yeah. He was pretty fucking mean.”

Her eyes widen, and I wince. “Sorry,” I mumble. I really need to learn to filter better.

But then it all hits me again, and the emotion bursts out of me, loud and ugly. “He broke Grandma’s bird,” I sob, burying my face in my hands. My shoulders shake, and the tears flow uncontrollably.

My mom scoots closer, rubbing my back gently, murmuring softly, “Shh, sweetheart. It’s okay. Let it out.” She takes a deep breath, her voice steady but full of anger. “I’m so sorry. He had to know what that bird meant to you.”

“He did,” I choke out, my voice breaking with emotion. “He knew.”

“Then he’s an asshole,” she says, the venom in her words startling but oddly comforting. She holds me until the sobs taper off, the ache in my chest easing just a little.

“Mom?” I ask softly, breaking the silence.

“Hmm?”

“Can we be friends?” My voice wavers, barely above a whisper.

Her arms tighten around me. “I would like that very much.”

I sit up, wiping my face with the back of my hand, feeling lighter—like some invisible barrier between us has finally been lifted.

“Why don’t you tell me about Ryan?”

“He’s nothing like Brad. He’s the opposite of anyone I’ve ever been with—one of the good ones. He’s smart, kind, and actually invested in me.” I can’t help the small grin that creeps onto my face. “And he’s so hot. Just wait until you see him. I have to pinch myself sometimes to believe he’s real.”

She laughs softly. “He sounds wonderful. Why don’t you bring him over for dinner sometime?”

I smile, a gooey warmth spreading through me. “Yeah, I think that’d be great. Not too soon though—I don’t want to scare him off.”

My mom chuckles. “Do you think Steve and I would scare him off?”

“No. I just… I want to take things slow. I know I’ll spend a lot of time with him, but I’m also looking for my own place. I need to do this on my own for a bit—figure my life out. I’ve relied so much on Brad for everything, I feel like I’ve lost my independence. And I know Ryan will want me to succeed on my own.”

“Well, he really does sound great. I’m excited to meet him.”

“Thanks,” I say with a soft smile. “I think you’ll like him.”

We spend the next hour catching up—talking about Steve, Ryan, work, Casey—and it feels good. Really good. The anger and resentment dissipate, like we’re finally starting to bridge the gap between us.

I leave my mom’s house feeling lighter—hopeful, even. I promised to call more and let her know when I’ll be staying with them. Sliding into the car, I pull out my phone to check for any missed calls or texts.

---