“You been in this family in one form or another a long time, Bryant. You should know that by now.”
“I guess I should have, but I didn’t realize you guys talk like little girls about things that don’t concern you,” I snap.
“It involves Terry and Maggie. That makes it our concern,” Blue says easily.
“People co-parent while living in different states all the time, Blue,” I tell him, repeating what I’ve tried to convince myself of for the last week.
“You know what you and Maggie are doing is more than co-parenting, Bryant. I can’t pretend to know exactly what is going on with you two, but whatever it is, you’ve made it work,” Blue mumbles, and it’s clear that he’s uncomfortable.
Hell, he’s not the only one. I’d rather be anywhere else. It’s surprising they sent Blue, actually. He rarely says more than a handful of words at a time.
“Did you draw the short straw and get sent here?” I mutter, trying to figure out how in the hell to get out of this.
“No, everyone was just going to leave you clueless,” he says, and I frown in confusion.
“Clueless to what?”
He stares at me, but instead of answering me, he asks another question.
“What exactly are you and Maggie doing, Bryant?”
I let out an irritated breath, leaning against the counter.
“Excuse the bluntness, but how about you tell me why the fuck this is any of your business?”
“She’s my sister.”
“And old enough to live her own life. Fuck, Blue, she’s the one that has picked the life we’re living. I don’t need you coming in here to question me when all I’m doing is giving your sister what she wants.”
“If it’s what you guys want, then why are you thinking of leaving Texas?” he asks.
I should demand he get out of my house, but I’ve been holding this in since I got the job offer. I have guys I work with, but there’s not one of them that I want to talk with about this shit. My best friend is Maggie. I can’t really open up to her. I was going to talk to her, but I wanted more time. If the Lucas clan knows about it, that means I don’t have any time at all.
“I said I’m giving Maggie what she wants, Blue. It’s not what I want.”
“Then, why are you living like it is? Seems to me you’re just telling Maggie you’re okay with it all.”
“You want the truth?”
“I’m going to be honest with you, Bryant. I don’t really give a damn. I figure your life is your life, but I do know Maggie loves you and this is going to hurt her. More importantly, it’s going to hurt Terry.”
“I appreciate your concern, but Terry is my son and whatever I decide, I’m going to do it with him in mind and whatever that decision is will not be your business.”
He nods in agreement.
“Okay, putting that behind us, what’s it going to do to you, Bryant? You’ve lived here your whole life and although we may not understand your relationship, we do know that you love her.”
“I do absolutely love her. I’ve always loved her. But when we lost Brylee, Maggie changed, Blue. She lets me love her, but she keeps everyone at a distance—even me.”
“Everyone but Terry,” Blue agrees.
“Everyone but Terry. I don’t know if I can live the rest of my life waiting for her to let me in,” I tell him honestly. “Especially since I don’t know if she ever will.”
“Oh, come on, you two have been exclusive for what? Three years or more now? You have to know she loves you.”
“I’ve never doubted that. But I don’t want to live the rest of my life staring at everything I want and not being able to fully have it, Blue,” I growl. “I’ve done that since the night Terry was conceived and I want more. I’m getting older. I need more.”
“And that more doesn’t include Maggie?”
“I’ve loved Maggie since I was a kid. It’s always been her—”
“Then you better shit or get off the pot, hadn’t you boy?” My head turns to the front door to see my worst nightmare.
Ida Sue.
“Now you see why I’m here,” Blue mumbles under his breath. “The rest of the family wanted to just let Mom go after you.”
Damn. All this time I thought Maggie’s family liked me…
4
Bryant
“Ida Sue, come on in,” I tell her, barely stopping myself from rolling my eyes.
“Sarcasm is never attractive, Bryant,” she complains.
Blue stands up, kisses his mother on the top of her head and sends me an apologetic look that makes me want to deck him.
“I think this is my cue to get the hell out of Dodge,” he says.
“You do that and let me tell you something, son, once I get Bryant’s head out of his ass and my girl straightened out, you’re next,” she warns.
“I’m fine. You should concentrate on Cyan. He’s the one pissed at the world since Alice turned him down,” he says, offering up his brother—not that I can blame him. Anytime you can divert an all-out attack from Ida Sue, you should. Which is why I’m pissed at Blue. Instead of dicking around, he should have told me his mother was on her way.
“See you soon,” Ida Sue singsongs, which tells me Blue is fucked. Ida Sue is going to wade in on his relationship with Meadow. I don’t know much about it, just from the small stuff that Maggie has told me, but if I was Blue, I’d be scared.
Hell, I’m scared for me right now.
Blue lets out a grunt and walks out—closing my door a little louder than he had to.
That leaves me and her staring at one another in the silent house.
“You’re wasting your time, Ida Sue,” I finally mutter, feeling damn tired.
“You mean like you have for the last six years?” she asks, sitting down and letting me know that she’s not going anywhere.
“I’ve not been wasting my time,” I deny, even though she’s right, at least in one sense.
“Please, don’t hand me that hog wash. I’ve heard it all before. I’ve been leaving you and my Magnolia alone because I thought you would eventually work your crap out. You thinking about moving tells me that’s not going to happen, and I’m tired of waiting for you to stop burying your head in the sand. So, I’m here.”
“Ida Sue,” I start, rubbing my hand against the back of my neck. “Whatever happens is between me and your daughter, and—”
“Involves my grandson and that involves me. I have one question, Bryant Matthews, I’m just wondering if you’re going to find your balls enough to answer me honestly.”
“Do I have a choice?”
“I didn’t have one when it came to getting you as a son-in-law.”
“Ouch, that hurts, Ida Sue.” She stares at me, not relenting the slightest inch. “Fine,” I sigh, deciding giving in is easier than trying to fight her. Ida Sue has always been a force to be reckoned with and I’m just tired. “What’s the question?”
“Are you going to sit there trying to find your manhood while some guy in Dallas gets your woman, or are you going to man up?”