Page 19 of Sparks Will Fly

“That’s not all. You heard I had a phone conversation with your mother?”

“She’s not my mother,” I instinctively snapped.

I pumped my fists, feeling the rage that wanted to take over. There was too much to unpack there in a hurry. The woman who birthed me had long ago lost my respect, love, and support. I owed her nothing, yet she still found a way to take from me. Taking a deep breath I recentered myself.

“My bad. It’s not even the phone call. It’s the decision to put money on her books. You know what kind of person she is. Why would you do that? How did she even get your number?”

“She’s working on bettering herself, Romani. Everyone deserves forgiveness. I gave it to her awhile back in case she ever needed me.”

“Everyone deserves it when they’re being genuine. We can bet right now that money fed the monkey on her back. Jail doesn’t slow an addict like her down.”

Mama Toy began to speak when the back passenger door on the right yanked open. The scent of vanilla and marshmallows was the first thing to assault me. Lovie’s beauty immediately followed as she slid next to me in the back seat.

“You scared to get this day started or something?” she teased.

I frowned. “I have nothing to fear.”

I wanted to say more, but I could hear Mama Toy’s voice in my ear doing what she did best.

“Who is that?”

“And that’s your problem. You need to stay out of other people’s business.” I massaged my forehead, knowing nothing I said would keep her away from her sister. Almost on cue, she confirmed as much.

“When it comes to my sister, I’m never going to turn my back on her. She’s not perfect, and I don’t support everything she does, but I love her. You don’t have to forgive her for all she’s done, but I do.”

“Why can’t I ever be someone’s first choice? You’d choose the person who walks all over you and treats you like shit the same way she does.” I chuckled dryly. “I’ll never understand the logic behind that choice, but I gotta go, Mama Toy. Love you with every breath in me. Talk soon.”

I didn’t even wait for a response as I ended the call. Fire raced through every fiber of my being. I hated it when she tried to downplay the trauma I experienced at the hands of her sister. She was not special, having suffered the same abuse from her yet would give her last if her sister asked. Robyn was like that too. I would never understand it. Maybe it was a woman thing to forgive and forget, but I was taking my bitterness to the grave.

I got even more pissed off when I realized we weren’t moving, and I could feel the heat of Lovie’s eyes on me. It wasn’t my intention for her to hear any of that, but she just couldn’t wait for me to come get her out of the house. My foot began to bounce, having a mind of its own.

“What the fuck are you waiting for? Drive!” I yelled as my frustration bubbled out of me.

“M-my apologies boss,” Austin apologized. In the next thirty seconds, he had the truck started and pulling away from the curb.

I sat back with my eyes focused on the trashed streets of Chamberlain Square. Every time my mind wanted to drift to the woman who birthed me, I flinched. She was like a poison. The only way to save yourself was to cut her from your life completely, but the people I truly loved and cared about refused to do so. The only one with some damn sense other than me was Regal. He was away at college and never cared to know what was going on with her either. I had to find a way to protect the people I cared about because I knew it was only a matter of time before Anette struck again and left them heartbroken.

“Are you okay?”

Her voice was the gentlest I’d ever heard it. So silky and smooth, it caressed me long before her arms slowly found a way around my waist. She nuzzled herself against me with confidence and a softness I didn’t realize I was in desperate need of.

Everything in me said to push her away, yet somehow, I remained in place. I was unable to move even an inch out of fear of becoming too vulnerable… too emotional… She’d already gotten a glimpse of the broken little boy inside of me. I couldn’t handle her seeing anything more.

Nothing more was said as we made our way to the Motley building. You’d think having her so close would be awkward after a while, but honestly, it just felt right. Every circle she rubbed on my back… every squeeze of her arms… every inhale of her sweet scent… I couldn’t move if I wanted to. I was a prisoner in my own body.

I was relieved when we finally arrived. Except when she withdrew her body from mine, the chill that was always there reemerged colder than ever before. Afraid of what that might mean, I reached for her hand in desperation. When she looked down at our joined hands, I prepared myself for rejection. She held on to me tighter instead of putting my racing heart at ease.

We were immersed in a stare off until Austin opened my door. I pulled her out behind me, keeping her close to my body for the entire walk inside the building. She was like balm soothing my gruesome scars that ran deep. She pressed against me in the elevator that carried us to Rogue Realty headquarters.

Aisley was at her desk. She was probably on a personal call when we stepped off the elevator. There was a smile on her face until her eyes landed on us. The tone of her voice lowered to a whisper. She hung up the phone entirely shortly after.

“Good morning,” she greeted us with a tight smile.

“Morning,” I greeted her plainly. Turning to Lovie I asked, “Do you want something from Morning Brew?”

She nodded excitedly. “Absolutely.”

I nodded toward Aisley. She turned, giving her order without a second thought.

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