mother getting out of the house more, maybe going on a date, having some fun with a nice guy like Theo. It seemed like the perfect opportunity for her to forget about the past and live a little … and instead of seeing it that way, all her mother was doing was glaring across the living room like Mallory had betrayed her.
“I’m done taking chances. Besides, he’s divorced .” She said it like it was a crime.
“So are you, mom.”
Her mother’s frown deepened. “I never wanted to be. Not really.”
Mallory’s heart softened as she eyed the lines around her mother’s mouth, and so did her voice. “I know. Maybe he didn’t want to be, either. People get divorced for all sorts of different reasons. Just because he’s been married before doesn’t mean he did something terrible to end the relationship.” She knew her mother was thinking of her father, but she wouldn’t let her project those doubts onto Theo. Not if she could help it.
Her mother sighed. “Maybe not. But does it matter? I was looking for a sale on toaster ovens when I went out today, not a date. I was wearing this ratty old Christmas sweater and God knows I’m twenty pounds heavier than I was before.”
She didn’t need to define “before”. Mallory knew better than anyone that her mother bisected her life into two distinct time periods: before the divorce and after. Even now, eight years after the fact. She divvied up her existence into then and now, black and white – happy and unhappy. And she just wouldn’t stop.
Mallory narrowly repressed a sigh. Her mother had always been a family woman – her three kids and her marriage had been her life. When she’d discovered her husband’s affair, she’d been devastated. And Mallory didn’t – couldn’t – blame her. Not at all. But God, she couldn’t stand to see her mother stagnate, refusing to let herself enjoy life, even now.
“Theo obviously likes you the way you are, mom. You never know – you might like him too if you gave him a chance.”
Her mother brushed off the comment, and Mallory hugged her anyway. “I have work in the morning. Goodnight.”
In the privacy of her bedroom, she finally breathed a sigh. She knew her mother better than anyone, but even so, she got a sick feeling that she was only beginning to realize how damaged she’d been by the betrayal and divorce. It seemed like the effects of love gone wrong really could last a lifetime.
It was a scary thought, especially since Mallory could remember a time when her mother had been happy – when her parents had seemed happy together . Surely there’d been a time when they’d felt the rush of irresistible attraction, when they hadn’t wanted anybody but each other.
Just like she couldn’t imagine herself wanting anybody but Tyler even though she knew she was being pulled in way too fast. Less than two weeks ago, all she’d wanted was a date to a party. He’d been sexy, tempting and available… And now he was all those things and more. There was no denying it: she craved him. She looked forward to seeing him again in ways she hadn’t even imagined a couple weeks ago.
Did relationships always start out like this, even if they were doomed? And if so … how was anyone supposed to tell the difference between future happiness and heartbreak?
CHAPTER 7
“C’mon. Just say we’re going out together – you know, brotherly bonding and all that.” Dustin implored Tyler with round, blue eyes.
“No way.” Tyler pulled on his jacket, already glancing toward the door. Even Dustin’s whining couldn’t put a damper on his mood. In a few minutes, he’d be on his way to see Mallory – it was the day before Christmas Eve, and they both were free.
Dustin breathed a long sigh, mumbling something under his breath. “You know, you really suck at upholding the code. It’s like you don’t even care.”
“I don’t care. Listen, you’ve spent less than two hours with mom and dad since you got to
“I’m done taking chances. Besides, he’s divorced .” She said it like it was a crime.
“So are you, mom.”
Her mother’s frown deepened. “I never wanted to be. Not really.”
Mallory’s heart softened as she eyed the lines around her mother’s mouth, and so did her voice. “I know. Maybe he didn’t want to be, either. People get divorced for all sorts of different reasons. Just because he’s been married before doesn’t mean he did something terrible to end the relationship.” She knew her mother was thinking of her father, but she wouldn’t let her project those doubts onto Theo. Not if she could help it.
Her mother sighed. “Maybe not. But does it matter? I was looking for a sale on toaster ovens when I went out today, not a date. I was wearing this ratty old Christmas sweater and God knows I’m twenty pounds heavier than I was before.”
She didn’t need to define “before”. Mallory knew better than anyone that her mother bisected her life into two distinct time periods: before the divorce and after. Even now, eight years after the fact. She divvied up her existence into then and now, black and white – happy and unhappy. And she just wouldn’t stop.
Mallory narrowly repressed a sigh. Her mother had always been a family woman – her three kids and her marriage had been her life. When she’d discovered her husband’s affair, she’d been devastated. And Mallory didn’t – couldn’t – blame her. Not at all. But God, she couldn’t stand to see her mother stagnate, refusing to let herself enjoy life, even now.
“Theo obviously likes you the way you are, mom. You never know – you might like him too if you gave him a chance.”
Her mother brushed off the comment, and Mallory hugged her anyway. “I have work in the morning. Goodnight.”
In the privacy of her bedroom, she finally breathed a sigh. She knew her mother better than anyone, but even so, she got a sick feeling that she was only beginning to realize how damaged she’d been by the betrayal and divorce. It seemed like the effects of love gone wrong really could last a lifetime.
It was a scary thought, especially since Mallory could remember a time when her mother had been happy – when her parents had seemed happy together . Surely there’d been a time when they’d felt the rush of irresistible attraction, when they hadn’t wanted anybody but each other.
Just like she couldn’t imagine herself wanting anybody but Tyler even though she knew she was being pulled in way too fast. Less than two weeks ago, all she’d wanted was a date to a party. He’d been sexy, tempting and available… And now he was all those things and more. There was no denying it: she craved him. She looked forward to seeing him again in ways she hadn’t even imagined a couple weeks ago.
Did relationships always start out like this, even if they were doomed? And if so … how was anyone supposed to tell the difference between future happiness and heartbreak?
CHAPTER 7
“C’mon. Just say we’re going out together – you know, brotherly bonding and all that.” Dustin implored Tyler with round, blue eyes.
“No way.” Tyler pulled on his jacket, already glancing toward the door. Even Dustin’s whining couldn’t put a damper on his mood. In a few minutes, he’d be on his way to see Mallory – it was the day before Christmas Eve, and they both were free.
Dustin breathed a long sigh, mumbling something under his breath. “You know, you really suck at upholding the code. It’s like you don’t even care.”
“I don’t care. Listen, you’ve spent less than two hours with mom and dad since you got to
Similar Books
