Page 43 of At the Edge with You

“No,” I say simply. I may not know what is happening between us, but I refuse to listen to her. “Keep your opinions about who I hang out with to yourself. I had enough when I was a kid.”

She lets out an aggravated sigh. “Why don’t you just leave? Give everything to Dad.”

This woman knows no bounds. “Nope, not happening. I rather enjoy ruining your day by just fucking existing.”

She glares over at me just as she stops the car in front of the Ice Thistle. I guess she just drove the block. “I am so disappointed in you.”

I throw open the door. “Nothing new, Mother.” Before I can shut the door, I ask, “Is Kitty okay?”

She rolls her eyes. “She’s fine.”

I slam the door and then shake my head.

What a bitch.

As my mom drives off in a huff, I feel his gaze before I turn to see him inside the pro shop, watching me. He looks embarrassed, almost stricken. His shoulders are hunched, his eyes downcast, but somehow, he is still watching me. I smile widely at him, but when I head inside, he goes out the back, away from me. I know he couldn’t have heard my mother, but I’m sure he knows what that was about. She never did like him, and while I never cared, it always bothered him.

Unlike before, when I was young and knew no better, I won’t stand for letting her bring that look to his face anymore. Maybe she’s right. I’m not able to resist Jett Cook.

And I don’t want to any longer.

CHAPTER

SEVENTEEN

The Belles

Things are super tense.

All four of the women feel it as they look from Fable, who sits at the Belles’ table with them, to Jett, who’s on the ice. It’s another Saturday night of A League hockey, and the place is packed. Though, all the four women can do is stare between the two young people they love. Jett didn’t come to the table or even wave to them as he hit the ice. He’s been very stoic all week, and from what Bea got out of him, they had a run-in with Elena. That’s all he would say.

It must have been bad because not only does he look tortured, but sweet Fable looks so defeated. Unlike Bea, Maggie, and Hazel, Kitty has had a front-row seat to Fable’s anguish. The last week has been hell for the poor girl, and no matter how much Kitty tries to get Elena off Fable’s case, she won’t let up. Fable can’t even breathe without getting on Elena’s nerves. Kitty knows that Fable’s at her wits’ end, but it’s not only that.

No, Jett is on her mind.

Fable has always been a bit different. Something that Elena and Richie never went a day without regretting or telling thegirl. They tried to stuff their perfectly precious daughter into a box labeled “Normal.” Fable didn’t have it easy, yet she still sits with such grace and beauty before the whole rink. She’s in Kitty’s Belles away jersey, white with pink and black trim. She pulled half her hair up with a pink bow. Her lips are glossy and her cheeks are rosy, but her eyes are sad. While she acts like she wants to be here, Kitty knows she doesn’t.

But then, that’s all Fable knew growing up. Forcing herself to be whatever anyone wanted of her. No matter how hard Phillip and Kitty tried to support her to be herself, her parents rode her hard, which was why they didn’t fight when she left. She needed to get away, and she thrived. She learned who she is, and now that she’s home, Kitty doesn’t want to let her go.

These twenty years away have nurtured one hell of a woman, and she hopes that Elena and Richie will find that out quickly. And leave her alone once and for all. Kitty knows Fable is only here for her, that she’d rather be in her blanket burrito at home. While she has grown so much, her need to please everyone hasn’t changed.

Or maybe it’s being here that is messing with her.

Kitty reaches out, grasping her granddaughter’s bicep and rubbing her thumb along the jersey. Fable looks over, a shy smile pulling at her lips as she leans into her. Love arcs in Kitty’s chest as she slides a piece of hair behind Fable’s ear. “You okay, my darling?”

Fable nods. “Just thinking.”

Kitty tries not to wince. The sweet girl is always thinking.

Across from them, Bea asks, “How’re things going with the skating programs, Fable?”

Fable’s smile grows, and Kitty doesn’t miss the way her eyes cut to the ice. No one has to guess who she’s looking at. Her stunning green eyes don’t stop seeking him. Kitty can’t help but wonder if Fable realizes she did the same thing when she wasyounger too. She’d walk into a rink and instantly look for him. Wherever he was, she made sure to be right there with him.

A wave of guilt burns through Kitty as she gazes at her granddaughter. While she wasn’t the one to tear the two of them apart, she still feels like she let them down. But it was done without her knowledge, and before she could stop it, she was left with a close-up view of two lost souls moving through life.

“Great. The programs are growing little by little. I’m trying to find some coaches right now to increase the size of the program. It’s going well, and I think I might be able to pull some from Knoxville. I’ve been getting out into the community and talking to different business owners. It’s going okay.”

“Okay?” Hazel asks, concerned. “Is someone giving you problems?”

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