Page 50 of Imperfections Seduced
“Don’t be a smart ass. I knew one day running around with all these different women would catch up to you.”
“Mom, I don’t introduce you to any of the women I date, so how would you know?”
“I wouldn’t call what you do dating. When you were living here, I thought this was going to turn into a home for teenage girls. They were popping in and out of here like candy in a Pez dispenser. I learned the hard way to knock on your door before I entered.”
One of my eyebrows goes up and the corner of my lip starts to twitch. I sit back and try not to smile. My mom and I had a lot of arguments when I was a teenager, mainly about the girls that were coming in and out of here. She wasn’t a strict parent, but she had her limits. Her limit was two girls coming out of my room at the same time when she came back an hour early. I got a stern talk that day—so did the girls—and every day after that until I left for college.
“Don’t you give me that look. I know what goes on between a man and a woman, that’s how you got here. I have my ways of finding things out. Your father’s not the only one with eyes and ears in the right places,” she says with a huff. “We need to discuss your other major problem.”
“What problem is that?”
“Your father. Did you tell him about the situation you’ve gotten yourself into?”
“Nope, I don’t care what he thinks. As long as I’m putting money in his pockets and I keep winning high profile cases, he doesn’t care.”
“Sometimes you are so much like your dad, your womanizing ways.”
I stiffen and narrow my eyes at her. “Watch it, Mom.”
“I’m speaking the truth. You try not to be like your father, but you’re well on your way.”
“The only similarities between us is we’re both lawyers and we’re damn good at what we do. When it comes to women, I don’t lie, I don’t cheat, I tell them what it is and what it’s not going to be upfront, so they’re under no illusions.”
“It’s all the same. Merely being with these women gives them the hope of a chance to be with you in a serious relationship.”
“They are with me, they should enjoy the time they get to be with me, because I’m going to enjoy the time I’m with them.”
“Spoken like a true womanizer. Sometimes your honesty is a little too honest. I’m your mother, and I know you have a good heart, and if you say you care about Cat I believe you care about her—but it may not be good enough. Your father cared about me once, and look how that turned out: an endless stream of women while we were married.”
“I’m not my father. I would never hurt Cat that way. When she opened the door the day she came back, a feeling I’ve been trying to suppress for years hit me like a punch to the gut. I knew our relationship wasn’t going to be the same. I want to protect her and love her at the same time.”
“I’m happy you finally found a woman who makes you feel this way, it’s a good thing. That’s the only good thing about this mess you’ve gotten yourself into.”
“As much as I love sitting here talking to you about my messed up life, Mom, I have to go.”
She reaches across the table putting her hands on my cheeks. “Sure you do.”
“I have some legal papers for Chris to sign. I told him I would drop them off at his parents’ house.”
“Don’t you have people to do that for you?”
“Yes, but since he told me he was going to be over there tonight, I figured I could drop them off. Plus I need to talk to Cat.”
“Good luck.” She walks me to the door and grabs my cheeks again. “Those eyes are a dangerous weapon.” She smiles and kisses me on my left cheek.
I pullup in front of Cat’s house, step out of the car, and walk up the steps. I know I said she needed time, but I have to see her. I keep seeing her face the night she got out of the car, the tears rolling down her cheeks. I hate the fact that I did that to her. The door opens, and it’s the sister I don’t want to see.
“Hi, Kate.”
“Hi, Nick. What are you doing here?”
“Is Chris here? I have some legal papers for him.”
“No. Is he supposed to meet you here?”
“Yeah, he said he might be running late.”
“Come in. I guess he should be here soon.”
