Page 94 of Your Biggest Downfall
“You’re lucky. I told your mom we should wait a few more months to make sure you?—”
“Ledger,” my mom barked. “Stop that right now.”
I sighed. I didn’t want to be here. This was a horrible idea. Fuck it. Time to rip off the Band-Aid.
“Well, one thing is for certain,” I deadpanned at Ledger. “I’m not dating Nova.”
I reached for her, and she walked over and grabbed my fingers, lacing them with mine. My mom looked baffled as her gaze bounced between us.
“What’s going on?” Mom asked.
I pressed my lips into a tight line and glanced down at Nova. She was staring at me, her smile soft before she turned to my mom with that smile still in place.
“Austin and I got married a few days ago.”
Silence.
Utter fucking silence. Even Evie somehow took this moment to stop cooing.
Ledger dropped the wooden spatula on the floor, and the resounding thud was the loudest thing in the room. He grabbed his apron, ripped it off, and threw it on the floor.
“I fucking knew it,” Ledger finally said. “He’s not ready. He’s still being impulsive and?—”
“Stop it.” My mom cut him off immediately. “Not your fucking place.”
He huffed in frustration. “Great, here we fucking go again. You’re going to tell me he’s your son and I have no say, even though I’ve done everything for him. If it wasn’t for me, he’d be jobless.”
That one stung. I had no idea this was what they argued about. Ledger wasn’t my fucking dad, but the fact that?—
“I think we should sit down.” Nova interjected, gently grabbing my hand. “I understand how this is a lot to take in, butit was actually my idea to get married. Technically”—she giggled—“I proposed to Austin.”
They both stopped and stared at her in surprise.
“Oh, honey, we didn’t even know you two were dating.” Mom went over and wrapped Nova up in a hug before returning back toward the kitchen.
“It’s been on and off,” Nova quickly explained before I could say anything. “We wanted to keep it on the down-low so the press wouldn’t get wind of it. Plus, my mom is... sick.”
I shook my head slightly, feeling a pang of guilt. She shouldn’t have to lie to appease them.
Nova smiled reassuringly at me before continuing. “I wanted to get married before my mother passed away. She’s been in and out of the hospital, and when I brought it up to Austin, he thought it was a wild idea, but eventually, he agreed.”
She paused, letting her words sink in. “We should have contacted you. I’m sorry we didn’t. We were caught up in the whirlwind of it all.”
Damn, she was good. No wonder she excelled at her job—she had a knack for turning things around and finding the positive spin on a situation.
“I, uh—” My mom paused, and Ledger looked away from her.
I never had a dad growing up, but I imagined if I had, I’d be a constant disappointment to them just as I was to my mother. I could never be enough for them to be proud of me.
Evie started fussing in her seat, snapping my mom out of her thoughts. “I’m proud of you, honey. If you two are happy, then we’re happy,” she said, glancing at Ledger. “Right, Ledge?”
He exhaled sharply before finally turning around. “Whatever your mom says.”
I scoffed, unable to hide my frustration. “For the record, I don’t need your approval. I came here to inform you, that’s all.”
Screw this guy. I couldn’t understand what my mom saw in him. He was an asshole.
“Good.” Mom hugged Nova again. “I’m glad he makes you happy.”
