Page 102 of Sky’s Edge

“Mom,” I whispered yet again, not knowing what else to say.

“I understand Tanyn heard what we had to say. I’m not sure what he said to you. But now, I’m concerned because this is clearly what you wanted. For that contract to be voided. It has been. And you seem very upset. Now, in hopes of helping with that, I can tell you, your father is digging deep to find his way beyond his nature so he won’t marry you off to some other male. I can’t guarantee that won’t happen, or he won’t continue to put pressure on. I can guarantee I have and am continuing to give him things to think about.”

I didn’t know whether to rush around my desk and give her a hug because I loved how much she loved me, and just how beautiful a mother’s protection felt, or scream at the top of my lungs before sharing with her I wished she’d spoken to me before she did to Dad…and especially Tanyn.

But it was done now.

And truthfully?

It wasn’t their fault.

Tanyn had given up on me.

Scraped me right off.

Let me go.

After telling me time and again he never would, he did.

He gave me precisely two and a half weeks to get used to the idea of my entire life changing, and just under four days of being around him, in his life, his places, his world, to start doing that.

And he gave up.

I’d been dating Bash for seven weeks, and all that went down with him hurt when it was over.

I’d had far less time with Tanyn, and he’d wrecked me when he made us over.

So regardless how it happened, and who got those wheels turning, it was over in a way it never would be anything but.

And now, I had a job ahead of me.

Laura and Aleksei’s engagement party was not far away, and there was a good possibility Tanyn would be there (I knew he’d been asked and RSVPed yes, however, with all that was going down in his realm and what had happened between us, I wasn’t sure that was the case anymore—I’d have to ask Laura, just…later).

However, I was going to have to put a rush on that job to get over it, just in case I was faced with him there.

“Catty, you’re not saying anything,” Mom prompted.

“I love you,” I said. “I love Dad. We’ll get past this.”

That was all I had.

“We will, my love,” she replied. “I’m so sorry what your father put you through.” She gave me a wobbly smile. “And yes, I threw him under the bus again with that, because it was all his idea.”

I returned her wobbly smile.

“I just wish I’d fought harder for you so you didn’t have to go through it,” she admitted.

“Oh, Mom, it isn’t anyone’s fault.”

It was.

Partially…Dad’s.

The bigger part…Tanyn’s.

“As you know, I disagree,” she said.

“Well, then, it’s over and there’s no point in placing blame,” I amended. “Everything heals in one way or another with time. We just have to give it that.”