Page 113 of I Choose You

She patted my knee. “You did an idiotic thing. But you’re not an idiot. You are a wonderful, smart woman.” Her fingertip gently tapped my temple. “But when it comes to matters of the heart?” She laid her hand over her chest and shrugged. “Then you’re just as much of a dumbass as the rest of us.”

I smiled and almost laughed. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Am I disappointed in you?” She bobbed her head. “Yes. Your original plans for revenge were petty. Cruel, even.”

I swallowed, wishing I’d taken her up on one of those drinks. My mouth was dry from all that talking.

“I know. I agree. It was petty.”

Mom shook her head, frowning at me.

I hated to ever hear her disappointment. “But, Mom, those guys tortured me in high school.”

She crossed her arms and shot me a say what? look. “Kaden?”

I nodded. “Both of them.”

“How? When? I never heard about any of this.”

“Kaden is the one who jerked me around at prom.”

She furrowed her brow. “What?”

I hated that I had to relive it and explain. But it was time. She’d never understand if she didn’t have the full picture.

“Kaden posed as Kody and asked me to prom. Then the day of the dance, he pulled the rug out from under me and bailed.”

“Just like that?”

I nodded. “He ended up taking one of the most beautiful and popular girls to the dance instead. I was so humiliated. I went with Paige, like we’d planned to. But I barely left the table. I didn’t dance at all. I didn’t get up to have my picture taken with anyone. I sat there until you came to pick me up.”

Mom’s frown was sad. She sighed and shook her head. “You know, I wondered. I thought it was strange when you’d called me from school and asked me to pick you up. I figured your date would take you home. And when I picked you up?” She furrowed her brow. “I could tell something was up. But you seemed so happy and normal.”

“I faked it. I didn’t want you to be upset about it.”

She hugged me, shaking her head again. “You sure fooled me.”

“I had never felt so unwanted.” Tears burned, and I sniffled to hold them back. “The feeling reminded me of how hurt I was, how I’d ached when Dad left.”

“Oh, Brooke.” She wrapped both arms around me and hugged me tight. “You are always wanted. Never, ever doubt that.”

I clutched her shirt and drew a shaky breath. “I know.” I did, truly. I had my mom. I had Rena. And one day, I hoped I’d have a man to count on sticking around.

“I wish you would have told me all of this back then.”

I sat back, wiping my face of the tears that had slipped out. “I wish I had too.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“I didn’t want you to feel bad. You weren’t too happy yourself, and I didn’t want to bog you down any more after Dad left.”

She cupped my face. “You are an angel. And I love your compassion. But it wasn’t your job to take care of me, to put my feelings first.”

I nodded. “But it was. And I just felt so humiliated, I was scared to even speak about it. It cut deep.”

“I see that.”

“Carrying it around with me all these years hasn’t been very smart either. It hasn’t done me any good. In fact, it’s done me so much harm.”