Page 81 of Off-Limits Love
“Let’s change directions for just a second. I’m less concerned about that than I am with your response to what Brad said.”
Mak paused in the act of stroking the soft pillow. “What do you mean?”
“From everything you’ve told me, Brad is a known manipulator.”
“He is. He even claimed he still loved me,” Mak said with a roll of her eyes and shake of her head.
“So if you didn’t believe Brad when he said that, why believe him when he said Finn was only interested in you because of the property? Why do you doubt Finn’s interest?”
Mak shifted uncomfortably on the loveseat. She’d spent nearly every hour of the time since going over and over that conversation with Finn. “I guess because… I don’t know.”
“You do know, Mak.”
She inhaled and sighed, leaning her head on the cushion behind her. “Fine. Maybe I believed him because I find it hard to believe a man like Finn would be interested in me.”
“And why is that?”
She lowered her gaze to Zoey without moving her head. “Let’s see… I’m basically homeless, I have no idea what the future will hold for me, a single mom, and a huge hot mess—with an ex who tormented Finn in the past? It made sense that he would feign interest because of the property.”
“Okay, if we’re listing perceived flaws, why are you interested in Finn? I mean, the man clearly has issues.”
Mak lifted her head to stare at Zoey. “Because he’s sweet and wonderful and—at least he told me the truth about wanting the property when I asked him. I can’t fault him when he was honest about that. He’s also kind and caring to his animals, and anyone can see that he loves his family. He’s generous, letting me use the venue’s kitchen to start my baking business. It’s how I was able to get the license approved so quickly.”
“Okay,” Zoey said with a shrug. “But that doesn’t mean he’s without issues.”
For the first time, Mak wasn’t so sure she liked her therapist. “Doesn’t everyone have issues? You said you didn’t believe in love, remember? No one is perfect. Finn’s been through so much, but I think… I think he’s a good person.”
“Mmm. A good person like you.”
Mak realized in that moment that she’d been totally had. She’d walked into the trap Zoey had set like a lamb to slaughter. “I know I was wrong to accuse Finn of liking me for the property. I let the Brad voice in my head and my insecurities win.”
“You did. And I’d say that’s something we obviously need to work on,” Zoey said with a patient smile. “Because Brad will have something negative to say about whomever you date. It’s his way of trying to have control and get under your skin.”
Mak sucked in a breath and nodded. “I see it now. And I refuse to let fear win. But…” She remembered the dance and kiss at Hudson’s party. The way Finn had looked at her, touched her.
Finn hadn’t known about Sam then. She was the one who’d friend zoned him and said it couldn’t happen, told herself he was off-limits, that love was off-limits because she was such a mess and there was so much going on in her life.
She’d short-changed herself and self-sabotaged things right from the start. Let fear and her insecurities overwhelm her before she’d even taken Finn’s interest in her seriously. She’d hate it if Emi ever allowed a man to make her feel less than, but she’d done just that. Slid right back into the old routine, the old habit of feeling like she wasn’t enough because her ex always made her feel that way. “If Finn and I get together, Brad willtormentFinn.”
“Finn is a grown man you do not have to defend. And while I understand what you’re saying, are you really going to let Brad decide your life? Who gets to be in it? Who you get to care for?”
“No, but…”
“But what?”
Mak sucked her lower lip between her teeth and held it in a tight squeeze for a moment. “The way it will impact the three of us? Impact Emi to hear her father calling Finn names? Don’t I have to consider those aspects too?”
“Consider them, sure. Come up with ideas on how to counter the toxicity when it happens? Absolutely. But if you want to see where things go with Finn and aren’t because of Brad—you’re giving your ex the driver’s seat to your life.”
She was—had. “Finn admitted he wants the property but— He kissed me before he knew about Sam. And he came to visit.” Memories came to her then, like Finn’s sweet, sweet gesture of bringing Dash over before Brad had ruined things, and paddleboating at the lake.
The picnic at the island market, where he’d glared at Hudson for flirting with her all during lunch.
She might see things through Brad lenses, but all those things had happened before, and they were real and not imagined. “So help me,” she said with a soft whine. “How do I deal with Brad?”
The question left Zoey smirking.
“If you can—do not engage. You will never win with a narcissist. Ignore him as much as possible and keep things focused entirely on parenting Emi. Stick to facts and keep communication as minimal as possible.”
