Sterling (Carolina Reapers 6)

“He took my house!” I motioned to the two-story modern home we stood in front of.

“I know.”

“And it’s not that I don’t like the new one, but I sure as f—” I barely caught myself from swearing and earned an arched eyebrow. “I wouldn’t have chosen the one next door if I’d known he was my neighbor. Trust me, there’s not a lot of borrowing sugar going on.”

“I know, honey.” There was so much compassion in her eyes that my chest ached.

“He took my team, and I know it’s still my team, but it’s like he’s this little spot of black mold on a cake, spoiling the rest of it and spreading his…moldiness.”

“Hmmm.” Mom pressed her lips in a firm line, struggling not to laugh.

“And he’s an asshole!” I cringed. “Sorry for swearing, but he is! He’s arrogant and calculating, and he stole the woman I love!”

Mom’s shoulders fell, and she rubbed her hand up and down my bicep like I was eleven and just lost a game.

“And it’s not like they’re together or anything.” Bile rose in my throat at the thought of it. “But all he had to do was make one stupid comment in the locker room, and it somehow makes me the bad guy. And London believes him! She thinks I pursued her just to piss him off, and I didn’t!”

“Did you tell her that?” Mom asked.

“I started to in the hallway, but I was just so pissed, and even I can admit the timing of when I asked her out was suspicious. It’s all a complicated…jacked up mess.”

Mom nodded. “Do you really love this girl?”

“Yeah.”

“Then fight for her, Jansen.”

“It’s not that simple.” I shook my head.

“It really is.” She tugged my arm, and we started walking up the sidewalk to my house, where Greg waited. “I never gave you an opportunity to watch me fight for love. I didn’t love your father. You know that. And you were out of the house by the time I started seriously dating again, so you didn’t see when Greg and I would push past our arguments. But we do. You can push past this, too, Jansen. Just be honest with her. Lay it out on the line, and if she still doesn’t listen, then it’s on her.”

“Her brother is Maxim’s best friend. If London and I really, honestly make a go of it, he’ll be in my life, Mom. I don’t want that for you.”

Her grip tightened. “Jansen Marcus Sterling, don’t you dare use me as an excuse to hide behind.”

“What? I’m not!”

“I love that you want to protect me, honey.” She leveled me with the Mom look. “But whether or not you want to admit it, he’s always been in your life. Maybe not physically, but from the moment you knew about your father, he was there, too. You have two brothers and a sister. That’s not going to change, whether you’re with London or not. So why not be happy? Don’t let your hatred of Maxim steal away your chance with London.”

I sighed.

“Also,” she continued. “Stop taking him into account for my visits. I’ll come and see you whenever I damn well please, and I’m not scared of borrowing a cup of sugar, either. He might be an asshole, but he’s just a kid who was born into a situation he couldn’t control. Just like you.”

I didn’t want to admit that she was right, but as usual, she was.

Mom and Greg left the next day, which also happened to be the day Maxim got back into town. The timer went off, and I pulled the tray of lasagna from the oven, leaving the pan on the granite to cool. Mom had made me six pans in addition to the one we’d devoured last night. Four were in the freezer. I told myself I’d ration them until she came to visit again, but who was I kidding? I’d probably eat every single one of them in the next month.

The doorbell rang, and my heart jumped.

Calm the fuck down, it’s not her.

I checked the security camera app and tensed.

It wasn’t her.

It was Maxim.

He rang the bell again.

“Impatient asshole,” I muttered as I walked to the front door, trying my best to channel Mom’s kindness. Trying and failing. I opened the door, anyway.

Maxim looked as uncomfortable as I felt. His jaw was tense, and his hands were in his front pockets. He wasn’t wearing a coat.

“Did you need to borrow a cup of sugar?” I asked.

“What?” He gave me a what the fuck look.

“My mom,” I started, then shook my head. “Never mind. What do you want?”

“Can we talk?” He bit out each word like they were physically painful to say.

He’s just a kid who was born into a situation he couldn’t control. Mom’s words from yesterday rattled around in my brain, softening me like nothing else could. “Yeah. Come on in. It’s cold out.”