by Aleo, Toni
“What a bitch!” Shelli says, but Mom presses her hand on Shelli’s to calm her down.
Mom may seem calm, but I know she isn’t. “What brought all this on?”
“I have no clue,” I admit. “She was firing questions at me left and right, and I answered very respectfully. But it seemed as if everything I said wasn’t good enough. That I wasn’t good enough. I overheard her saying he needed to stay in his lane, and I got irate. He is perfect for me. Really, he is, and I told her that. I told her she didn’t get to question us or question how I feel because we know how we feel about each other. He got so upset, hollered at her, and we left midway through dinner.”
“Wow,” Shelli says. “I don’t understand.”
“I don’t either. But in her defense, his fiancée who cheated on him was well-off, and apparently her family didn’t fully accept him because of his background.”
“His background?” my mom asks, and I press my lips together. I’m unsure if I should share this or not. Didn’t Boon want me to talk him up? This is the perfect opportunity.
“He grew up poor, but he isn’t anymore. He’s very successful now,” I insist, but my mom shrugs.
“I don’t care if he lives in a box as long as he treats you well and loves you completely.”
My heart skips a beat. I knew my mom wouldn’t let me down in this department. “He does, and I love him.”
My mom’s face breaks into a huge grin as Shelli beams at me. Mom wraps her arms around me, hugging me tightly. “That’s wonderful, sweetie.”
“It is,” I agree. “But I don’t know what to do about his mom.” I reach for my phone, pulling up the text and then reading it out loud. “Posey, I wanted to apologize for my behavior the other night. It was uncalled-for and very rude on my part. I judged you before I even allowed myself to get to know you. I hope you understand that, first and foremost, my job is to protect my son, and after Julia, I’m worried he will get hurt again. I’m not saying I think you will hurt him, but I worry that he wants so much to be in love that he isn’t thinking clearly. I hope for the best, though, so we will see. I hope you will give me another chance to get to know you.”
I look up from my phone, and Shelli is flushed red with anger. “What the hell? Wasn’t he single for, like, months after his fiancée split?”
“Over a year,” I confirm. “It bothers me she said that. It isn’t as if he loved me right from the rip. It was a good month in before things got serious.”
“Exactly. I think that’s bullshit.”
“Without being emotional, I think your sister may be right. But what is he saying?” Mom asks, and I bite my lip.
“He was super upset with her, but they talked yesterday and he feels she’ll come around. He says it doesn’t matter what she thinks, he loves me, but I don’t want him to resent me if she does hate me and he chooses me.”
“I agree,” my mom says, holding my gaze with her concerned one. “Do you think he will resent you?”
“I don’t want to think he will, but I also don’t want this to come between us. I’ll give her another chance, but I won’t back down.”
Shelli makes a face. “Or you coot-punch her.”
“Shelli Grace!”
“What? Mom, for real, that was rude. Posey doesn’t deserve that.”
Mom agrees. “You’re right, but this woman is trying to protect her son, and I can’t fault her for it. I wouldn’t have handled the situation that way, but not everyone was raised like y’all or me.” She cups my face, rubbing her thumbs along my jaw. “You handled yourself perfectly, and I’m so proud of you. You really are shaping up to be an incredible woman, Posey Rose.”
My face warms. “I learned from some incredible women growing up.”
She winks at me. “I think you should give her another chance. I think now that she knows you aren’t backing down, she’ll treat you differently.”
“I hope so,” I answer, but Shelli shakes her head.
“I still vote to coot-punch her.”
I grin. “If she says he’s only Mom’s employee and not good enough to be with me again, I just might.”
Shelli’s eyes widen. “She said that?”
“She did. To him. I was appalled.”
But then, like a lightbulb clicking on, I realize what I just said. I think Shelli does the moment I do, because her eyes widen even more than before as her gaze moves to my mom. I feel my mom’s eyes on me as she asks, “‘Only an employee’?”
I press my lips together and inhale through my nose. “I’m going to go lie down.”
“Good plan,” Shelli says, but I’m stupid if I think I was getting away.
“As in, one of my hockey players? Or my staff?”
I swallow nervously as Shelli shakes her head. “Wow, you threw yourself under the bus with that one.”
“I know. Help me,” I beg, but there is no helping me.
“Posey Rose. Answer me.”
I close my eyes, dropping my head to the bar. “I don’t want to tell you, Mom.”
I’m met with silence for a beat. “It’s a hockey player.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “I’m not ready to tell you. I don’t want Daddy knowing until after the wedding. I don’t want to mess with the angina—”
“It’s Boon Hoenes,” Mom says then, and I go slack against the bar. “Isn’t it?”
How in the world? “Mom…”
“Posey,” she says sternly. “Is it Boon Hoenes?”
I stand up and look over at her. “Please don’t say anything. We don’t want anyone thinking I’m treating him differently or I’m favoring him.”
“Wow,” she says slowly. “I knew you were either in love with him or hated him. Fine line, I guess,” she says, shaking her head. “You’re so hard on him, but then the way you two look at each other… I knew something was there, but I didn’t think you would act on it.”
“I know it’s not professional, but he’s amazing, Mom. I love him so much,” I stress, swallowing hard. “He really is good to me and so kind.”
“He’s wonderful,” she agrees. “I adore him. He’s always been a solid player and a kind guy. Like I said, I see the way he looks at you. I’m just stunned you chose him. He doesn’t seem very boyfriend material.”
I nod quickly. “I know. He wasn’t. But he says I just happened. I don’t know, Mom, but he’s so romantic. So sweet. We danced in Target, like you and Dad do.”
Her eyes soften as a grin pulls at her lips.
“He feeds me carbs. He holds me when I don’t feel well. Mom, he tells me at every turn that I am beautiful. He calls me ‘lovely.’ He—”
“Posey, baby,” she says, interrupting me. “You don’t have to sell him to me. If you love him, I love him.”
I don’t know why, but emotion chokes me as I stare into her green eyes. They’re so full of love and support, I’m completely overwhelmed. This woman would die for me, and like she always has, she loves me. She’ll love hard until the day she dies, and I can’t believe I got lucky enough to have her as my mom. Soon, it’s too much to handle, and big fat tears roll down my face.
Compassion fills her features before she wraps her arms around me. “Oh, sweetheart, why are you crying?”
“I just love you so much,” I cry, holding her close. “His mom was so awful to me. And the whole time I was sitting there, I was trying to be respectful. But I knew you wouldn’t treat him like that. I knew you would accept him with open arms. But I’ve been so scared to tell you because I know you were upset about the Maxim fiasco, and then you still gave me a chance to coach special teams. I didn’t want you to think I wasn’t professional or that I didn’t take my job seriously. I didn’t mean for this to happen, Mom. He came out of nowhere and hit me like a million rocks on a lake.”
She moves her hand up my back, holding me close. “That’s how love happens, sweetheart,” she says, tipping her head back to look at me. “Daddy came out of nowhere, skated right into my life, and I was done
for.”
When Shelli comes over and wraps her arms around us, I smile when I feel her cheek against mine. “I think it’s wonderful. Boon is really good to her, Mom.”
“I don’t doubt it,” she says, kissing both of us. “I can’t wait to meet him as your boyfriend and not my employee.”
I know she means it as a joke, but her statement makes my heart skip. “Maybe tonight?”
“I would love that, honey.”
“But don’t tell Daddy. I don’t want him knowing yet. Give me until after the wedding, and then we’ll tell him.”
“Him and that damn angina. Gets in the way all the time.”
As we all laugh, I hold my sister and mother a little tighter, thankful they are mine.
Even if they drive me insane.
* * *
“I’m nervous.”
I glance over at Boon with a funny look on my face. We’re sitting at the hotel bar waiting for my mom to get back from dinner. I’m still not feeling one hundred percent, so instead of going to dinner, I slept for a bit while Boon watched TV. He refused to go to dinner. I’m unsure how he got out of it, but I’d rather not know. It will make me feel guilty, especially if he has to do laps or pay a fine for missing the team dinner. I need to be oblivious to the whole thing.
“You’re insane. It’ll go fine.”
He gives me a goofy look. “I want her to like me.”
“She already adores you. Now, she’ll love you, just as I do,” I say as I pinch his chin, bringing him down for a quick kiss.
“I love being loved by you.”
The widest grin spreads across my face, even though I’d much rather sleep than smile. “Same here.”
“I can’t take you back to my room, can I?”
I shake my head, leaning on my hand to stare at him. “For one, we can’t just start throwing our love all over the place like confetti—”
“So rude.”
“And for two, I’m not in any shape to keep up with you.”
He leans on his hand, staring into my eyes. “I could just eat you all night. You wouldn’t even have to move.”
My body burns with lust. I would love nothing more than to be on the receiving end of that beautiful mouth, but there is no way. “I wouldn’t be able to handle it.”
“That’s hot,” he teases, and I roll my eyes. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
I nod confidently. “Yes. It’s the altitude or my new meds, I don’t know. I’m fine, though.”
“You look worn out.”
I glare. “Please, don’t sugarcoat it.”
He grins. “You are the hottest worn-out woman I have ever seen.”
“Better,” I say, and then I see my mom. “Oh, there’s my mom.”
I feel the apprehension come off Boon as he turns his body to see her striding toward the bar where we’re sitting. She is perfection in a long maxi dress that drags on the floor as she walks. Her auburn hair is down along her shoulders, and she looks like the majestic queen she is. When she sees us, a wide smile takes over her face, and she heads for us. Her eyes are bright and happy as she stops in front of us, looking from Boon to me. “Hey.”
“Hey,” I say, unable to fight my grin as I look up at Boon. He looks down at me, and I love how nervous he is. He has nothing to worry about; my mom would never treat him the way his mom treated me. “Mom, I want you to meet my boyfriend, Boon.”
He looks back at my mom and holds out his hand. “Hey, Mrs. Adler, it’s great to meet you.”
She holds his gaze, ignoring his hand, and my breath catches. Shit, is she not okay with this? Was it all a ruse? Then slowly, a grin moves across her maroon-painted lips, and she pushes away his hand. “It’s Elli, honey. And I don’t shake hands with the man my daughter loves. I hug. I’m Southern, damn it.”
And then she wraps her arms around Boon, and he hugs her tightly. I press my hand to my chest as I watch them hug, and everything inside me is firing off like mad. It’s all too much emotion at once. When she pulls back, she grips his biceps and beams up at him. “Thank you.”
His brows come in. “For what?”
“I have watched my baby blossom, and I have a feeling you had a lot to do with that.”
“She stole my heart, and I’ve decided to let her keep it.”
My mom’s face has to hurt from how big she’s smiling. “Well, I’m glad, because I’m excited to see y’all’s future.”
“Me too,” he says, looking back at me, and my heart soars.
“Me too,” I agree, and she pats his chest.
“Well, let’s have a drink and get to know each other as mom and boyfriend.”
“I would love that,” he says, and she claps her hands together.
“I need to piss like a racehorse. Get a table, and I’ll meet y’all over there. Order me a glass of red.”
I nod as she heads off, and Boon lets out a long breath. “Told you,” I say with a wink. He squeezes my elbow, and we go to find a table. Unfortunately, we don’t get far.
“Posey.”
I will remember the sound of his voice for the rest of my life.
I think of you as a sister.
My breath catches as I turn to see him. He’s cut his hair; it’s not as long as it used to be. He almost isn’t recognizable with how short it is, but those brown eyes are still unstoppable. I hate how dreamy I still find him. “Maxim.”
“Hey,” he says softly, coming to me. But when he tries to hug me, Boon’s hand is there, stopping him.
Maxim’s eyes narrow to slits, and I look at Boon. “Don’t.”
“I’m not doing anything, but he isn’t touching you.”
“Who is this?”
I shake my head. I owe him no explanation. “What are you doing here, Maxim?”
“I knew you were here. I ask a friend. I need to speak to you.”
I understand Boon’s concern and I almost tell Maxim to fuck off, but I know he won’t leave me or my mom alone until he gets out what he needs to say. “What?”
“Can I speak to you privately?”
“No,” Boon says simply, and I look back at him.
“Boon, relax.”
“No. I don’t want you talking to him.”
I glare. “I don’t need you to get all jealous. You have nothing to worry about.”
His eyes are in slits. “I don’t want you anywhere near him. I don’t want him fucking with your head.”
I scrunch up my face. “I can handle myself.”
I start to walk away, but Boon grabs my hand. “Posey.”
I remove my hand from his. “Boon. Relax.”
But relax is the last thing he does. “I’m not going to ask again,” he warns, and I bring in my brows.
“Then don’t.” He looks at me incredulously, and I honestly don’t know who he thinks he is speaking to. “Excuse me.”
I move to follow Maxim to the side of the room, and he laughs. “Who is the jackass?”
“My boyfriend,” I answer simply.
“Boyfriend?” He seems disappointed.
“Yes,” I answer, ignoring the death look Boon has on his face. “What do you want?”
“I want to talk to you. I miss you.”
I scoff. “Sorry, but that ship sailed, buddy.”
“What?”
“Maxim, seriously, if you’re here to tell me you miss me, love me, or anything like that, you’re wasting your time,” I say, and then I point to Boon. “I know what real love is now, and it’s that brute of a dude right there.”
Maxim’s gaze follows where I’m pointing, and then he looks back at me. “Seriously? That guy?”
Boon is glaring at us, and he looks as if he is getting an enema. “Yup, that guy.”
Maxim shakes his head. “I’m wasting my time, eh?”
“Yes, which is why I didn’t write you back or call or want to see you.” I meet his gaze. I can’t believe I loved him for as long as I did. I may have struggled to tell Boon how I felt, but I was terri
fied of telling Maxim. Why? He would never love me the way Boon does. “You know what? Thanks. Thanks for breaking my heart, because if you hadn’t, I wouldn’t have found him.”
He looks down at the space between us. “I shouldn’t have let you go.”
“No, you should have,” I say as his gaze meets mine once more. “Because it took getting you out of my life to find true happiness.”
He sighs. “Wow.”
I shrug.
“Then I’ll leave you alone. Good luck.”
“Right back atcha.”
As he starts to walk away, a sense of relief washes over me. I’ve always been worried Maxim would have a hold on me if I ever saw him again, but that’s not the case at all. The only one who has a hold on me is Boon. I turn to look at him, and his eyes are blazing with anger. I exhale and head toward him just as he stomps toward me. When he stops in front of me, I look up at him with the same fire in my eyes, ready for the fight.
“Are we really going to fight about this?”
He nods. “Yup.”
I take a deep breath. “All right. Let’s do this.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Boon
Posey’s aloofness pisses me off even more.
To see her with him, to know that all he had to do was reach out and touch her, really got my jets firing. I want to kill him for hurting her, but I can’t believe she wanted to talk to him. He hurt her. Why would she even care about someone like that?
“Are you serious right now?” she asks incredulously, and I look at her, wide-eyed.
“I think I am. What the hell? I asked you not to talk to him.”
She scrunches up her face. “Why? Because I was going to leave with him? You saw how it went. I told him it wasn’t going to happen, and then I came back to you.”
“Yes, because I was standing here—”
“Oh, because you were standing here? You’re serious right now? You really think if it were just him and me, I would have gone home with him? I would have jumped his bones? Because I did that so many times in the three years I knew him, that yes, I am going to mess up my fantastic relationship for a dude who never saw me for who I am? Yeah, that makes a whole lot of sense.”
