Page 128 of The Defender
“Hmm. Far be it for me to tell you who you should date, but that’s one of the reasons your father and I divorced. He was obsessed with the sport. Couldn’t bother to pay attention to me the entire time we were married.” Sienna flicked her gaze toward me. “How long have you been dating again?”
It was the first time she’d asked about our relationship since we sat down, which was pretty wild since I was the boyfriend who’d gatecrashed their mother-daughter brunch at the last minute. Most people would be curious right off the bat.
“We’ve been dating for a month, but we’ve known each other for a year and a half,” I replied.
“A month? Why am I only finding out about this now?”
“I figured I’d tell you in person since I was already going to be here,” Brooklyn said. “We don’t talk much on the phone anyway.”
“Well, whose fault is that, darling? You can pick up the phone any time.”
My reaction was swift and visceral. Every muscle in my body coiled, and I was already halfway out of my chair before I caught myself. I sat back down, my teeth grinding as the metal handle of my fork dug into my palm.
This wasn’t my fight. Not yet. I didn’t want to make a scene and embarrass Brooklyn in public, but God, I wanted to wipe that condescending expression off Sienna’s face.
Brooklyn placed a reassuring hand on my knee underneath the table. “I’m going to use the restroom,” she said calmly. “I’ll be right back.”
She left, her quick steps taking her across the rooftop and into the main restaurant. I waited until she was out of sight before I pounced.
“Why did you ask her to fly back here?” I’d smoothed the sharpest edges of my anger, but the rest of it seeped out with tightly controlled venom.
“Excuse me?”
“Brooklyn. You asked her to fly eleven hours to California so she can hold your hand while you give birth, yet you act like you don’t want her here. Why is that?”
Sienna’s fork hit her plate with a loudclink. Her lips parted in shock, and I’d bet my last dollar no one had talked to her like that in years, if ever.
“Because she’s my daughter and this is my family, which is why it doesn’t concern you. You’ve been dating for a month. I don’t have to explain myself to you, and frankly, I don’t like your tone.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” I leaned back, my voice deceptively calm. “It does concern me when you treat her like shit. You may be her family, and Brooklyn and I may have onlystarted dating a month ago, but I care about her. A lot. Which is more than I can say for you.”
She glared at me, her mouth a thin slash against her rapidly reddening face.
I hadn’t come to California with the intention of confronting Brooklyn’s mother. I was here for moral support, but seeing their dynamic in real time made my stomach turn. Sienna was a true narcissist. Brooklyn was aware of that, but I think a part of her still hoped her mother would have a sudden epiphany and treat her like a real daughter one day.
The problem was, narcissists never changed. At the end of the day, they only cared about themselves. If they displayed the same pattern of behavior for almost thirty years, they’d continue that pattern for the next thirty.
I couldn’t say that to Brooklyn without stepping way over the line, but Icouldgive Sienna a piece of my mind.
“I’m aware we only met an hour ago,” I said. “But in that hour, you’ve asked about her life exactly twice. You spent the rest of the time talking about yourself, berating her, or delivering some sort of backhanded compliment. You must rely on her somewhat for emotional support if you asked her to come here, yet you refuse to show her any warmth or appreciation. Or maybe you don’t rely on her at all. Maybe you just wanted to see how far she’d jump for you if you asked. Either way, it’s bullshit. She deserves better than this.”
“You have some nerve.” Sienna looked like she wanted to slap me, but she probably didn’t want to make a scene in public. However, her eyes blazed with fury as she gave me the fakest smile I’d ever seen. “You think you can say whatever you want because you’re a hotshot athlete, but I’ll tell you this. Brooklyn ismydaughter. I raised her. I birthed her from my fucking womb even though I didn’t want to, and I kept her fed and clothed even when she ruined my chances of having a real life and career inmy twenties. No matter what you think of our relationship, we’re family, and she’llalwayschoose family over anything else. I’m her only mom.Youare replaceable. If I tell her to dump you, she will.”
“Because she’ll do anything you tell her to?”
“Because she’s that desperate for my approval.” Sienna shrugged. “Mommy issues. Everyone has them. Sometimes it works to my advantage.”
“Does it?”
Sienna’s face froze for a split second before it relaxed into another fake smile. She turned to where Brooklyn stood behind her. Judging by her devastated expression, I didn’t have to guess how much she’d overheard.
My chest cracked in half. I wanted her to see her mother for who she was, but I didn’t want her to find out this way. Sienna’s comments had been cruel and callous, and it fucking killed me to see Brooklyn standing there, her eyes wide and clouded with hurt.
A sharp pain twisted in my gut. My hands clenched into fists beneath the table, and I had to breathe through the desire to sweep Brooklyn up in my arms and whisk her far, far away from here.
Whatever happened next needed to happen. I couldn’t interfere.
“Darling, you’re back. Good.” Sienna gestured toward me, her gaze cutting. “Vincent was telling me what an apparently horrible mother I am. You won’t believe the things he said after knowing me for, what? An hour? He waited until you went to the restroom and just attacked me.” She shook her head. “I hate to say it because you so rarely bring a boy home, but he’s not the sort of man you want to be dating. Imagine how much bolder he’ll get if he’s comfortable beingthisrude this early in yourrelationship? Take it from someone who has your best interests at heart. You need to dump him immediately.”
