Fumbled (Playbook #2)(76)

“That was a nice villain speech and all,” I say, once I’m sure I won’t just scream in her face. “But you’re fighting a fight that doesn’t exist. In my mind, hell, in my life, you don’t exist. TK not only knows about Ace, but he loves him. And I might think you are quacked all the way out, but I know you love TK. You know how much a parent loves their child. And I know you know you can’t win.” I gentle my tone, trying to get in somewhere I know is impossible to penetrate. “You’re TK’s mom and he loves you, but he adores Ace and nothing you say or do will change that. If you were smart, instead of coming here and being a bitch, the move you should be making would be one to get to know your grandson.”

“You are the same conniving little gold digger you always were.”

Okay, so maybe calling her a bitch wasn’t the best way to extend an olive branch, but this seems like an extreme response to what was actually good advice.

“Lydia,” I sigh, already sick of this ride. “You really need—”

“Don’t you dare tell me what I need,” she says, cutting me off. “You have no clue what I need.”

The adrenaline and anger I felt seeing her at my door are gone and I still haven’t had my coffee.

In other words, I’m over this.

So I let her know.

“Think and do what you want. Your son kept me up way too late doing things I’m certain no mother wants to hear about and I have to go to work soon.” I take secret joy in the way her eyes bulge out of her head and her mouth falls open. “I still haven’t had my coffee and I want to take a long bath, so if we’re done here, I’d like to get my day started.”

“You little bitch!” she shrieks. Her face is cherry red and her knuckles are white. “How dare you! Just wait! TK has always been too good for you and now he’s too good for that bastard son you’re trying to pawn off on him!”

Oh, hey, adrenaline, welcome back.

My back goes straight and my claws come out. Say what you want about me, but mention my son one time and I will not hesitate to mess a bitch up.

But unfortunately for me, before I can get close enough to her to wrap my hands around her neck, my front door bursts open and slams against the wall so hard, not even the springy door stop can prevent the knob from going straight through the drywall. Then TK is in the doorway, his angry presence filling every inch of my house.

It’s the freaking best.

Lydia retreats.

“Get out,” TK growls.

“Honey, I was just— I—” Lydia stutters, but can’t finish before TK is in her face, cutting her off.

“Don’t care what you were doing, Mother,” he says. “Told you I needed space. Told you to give me that if you wanted back in my life. You couldn’t do it.”

“But I watched the game last night. I saw you get injured and you still wouldn’t answer my calls.” Her voice quivers and tears fall down her cheeks.

I watch, not at all moved by her waterworks.

And neither is TK.

“So because I still needed time and wasn’t talking to you, you figure the way back in my good graces is to come and harass the woman I love?” he says, and any color remaining in her already pale face drains. “To call my son, who I missed nine years with because of you, a bastard?” He leans in closer to her now trembling frame and roars, “Are you nuts!”

I figure this is a rhetorical question because clearly she is, and has always been, nuts. Starting when she lied and tried to trick me into an abortion ten years ago.

But as much as I hate her, I love TK.

And I know TK loves his mom and will regret this.

So I decide to stop it.

I cross the small space and step in between him and his mom, placing both of my hands on his chest and moving him back a step.

“Enough,” I whisper.

“But she—” he starts, his eyes still focused on Lydia, but this time, I do the interrupting.

“I know,” I tell him, still whispering. “But I think she gets it, and if you keep going, you’ll regret it.”

His eyes finally move to mine. We don’t say anything, but we don’t need to. He nods once before shifting his attention back to Lydia. “Get out now and I’ll think about returning your calls sometimes.” He takes a deep breath, his body vibrating with anger under my touch. “But stay and fight this, and I promise I’ll be nothing but a memory to you.”

I don’t look at Lydia while this is happening. Seconds pass in complete silence before I hear footsteps moving around us and then, finally, Lydia leaves my house.

I go to hug him, relieved this is over, but instead, TK’s hands move under my arms and lift me away from him.

“TK—” I start, but he cuts me off.

“No.” His green eyes, which are always lit with humor, are hard and angry.

My eyebrows knit together and chills go up my arms. “What’s wrong?”

His mouth opens and his eyes screw shut, but he doesn’t answer. Looking at the expression on his face breaks my heart. He looks so confused and angry. He looks crushed.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper.

It’s like he doesn’t hear me. He’s in his head and the struggle raging in his eyes tells me it’s a horrible place for him to be. But instead of talking to me, he turns around, and as fast as he was here, he’s gone.