Page 19 of Ice Princess

“Since when?”

I fold my arms over my chest and think about it.

“You don’t know? You announced such a ridiculous lie without even thinking of such details?”

“What matters is that we’re dating now.”

Mom pinches her lips together. “Son, you’ve never been impulsive. Why on earth would you…” Her words trail off and she talks to herself like she’s working through a complicated math problem. “Yes, you’ve always had a soft spot for the less fortunate. Your father and I raised you to have a generous, giving heart. But what I don’t understand is why you’d say such a thing in front of poor Victoria?”

My eyes narrow slightly. Why is mom mentioning Victoria?

“Don’t act as if you don’t know why she came back to Lucky Falls. She had several job offers back in the city. Her career would have taken off if she hadn’t turned those opportunities down.”

I frown.That’s not my responsibility.

“I don’t know how you left things when you broke up with her, but it was obviously not clear to her that your intentions were with someone else.”

My lips remain pressed together. I’ve already said what I needed to. Mom can talk circles around me all she wants.

Mom studies my face and, when I say nothing, she changes tactics.

This time, her voice is coaxing. “Gunner, I’m your mother. I want what’s best for you. You were happy with Victoria, weren’t you? You two would have continued dating if she hadn’t left to study.”

“Victoria and I are just friends.”

“You dated her for three years,” mom insists. “That’s more than friendship.”

My eyes lift to the ceiling as I try to find the words that will convince my mother.

Mom gets tired of my silence and spits out, “Fine. Date other people. But not her.”

“Why not?”

“Gunner,” mom’s voice rings with exasperation, “I said nothing when you tossed your business degree and went to work for your uncle’s hardware store, stocking shelves. I said nothing when you got all those tattoos.”

She waves to the ink that’s hidden beneath my black, long-sleeved shirt.

“I didn’t say anything when you spent all your time playing with the hockey team instead of settling down and marrying a nice girl. I figured you’d find your way eventually. You’ve always been a sensitive child. Maybe you just needed more time.”

Mom shakes her head, causing her bob to swish around her cheeks. “But I was wrong. Today shows that I should have been guiding you with a stricter hand.”

“I don’t need your guidance or your permission to date someone.”

Her eyes flash with hurt. “Really? Is that how you feel? After all the years I raised you… is that all you can say to me?”

I rub my forehead. Again, it seems like I said the wrong thing.

This is why I keep quiet.

Mom exhales in frustration. “That girl won’t fit in with us, Gunner. You heard what she said about the Ladies. She has no respect for everything I’ve built, everything this family stands for.”

My eyes slide away. Rebel made several points in her speech that I agreed with, but Mom isdefinitelynot open to hearing how the Lady Luck Society has been disproportionately focused on one side of town while ignoring the other.

“And she’s in a fight with several of our family members too. Your Uncle Stewart islividabout those ladies at the Pink Garage. They stole all his customers!” Mom wags a finger. “And that Rebel-one especially is said to flirt with every two-legged male who walks into her shop, married or otherwise.”

“Let me guess,” I growl, “Did you hear that from Marjorie?”

Mom tilts her chin up. “I neither confirm nor deny that.”

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