Succeeding Love

Mindy

Vin

“What?” My heart went still. “H-how do you know about…”

“Some blonde chick named is at your house right now talking to your mom. Who is she?”

I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “Uh, she’s… She’s my, uh, ex-wife. Are… Are you sure you heard the right name?”

“Yep,” Preston’s tone was dry. “I heard it from mom.”

“Shit.”

What the hell was going on? Why the fuck would be at my house right now?

“Yeah,” Preston scoffed. “Shit.”

I ran my hand over my hair, repeatedly, then turned to the saleslady who had been waiting patiently. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”

She smiled sympathetically. “Have a, uh, good rest of your day,” she said awkwardly. “Good luck,” she quietly murmured as she headed back to the counter.

I raced out the door to my car, asking Preston, “Is she still there?”

“Who? Your ex or my mom?”

I groaned. “Both I guess.”

“Well,” he hesitated. “Mom’s here for now. As for your ex, I think she went back to your house with your mom.”

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Why the fuck would randomly show up at my house? What business did she have with my mom? Mom knows what she did to me. Mom knew how badly it hurt and how much of a bitch was during the divorce.

Except… Mom is confused more than she’s not lately.

Fuck.

“I’d hurry, Vin. Seriously. I don’t know what the heck is going on with you and mom, but I have never seen her more pissed than I did just a second ago.”

My foot went heavy on the gas. “I’m flooring it. Be there soon.”

I tossed my phone to the passenger seat as I broke several laws racing to get home. It was still about twenty minutes before I pulled into our neighborhood, and I was in a full panic by then.

Lynn knew it was . That means they talked. I haven’t talked to my ex since the divorce was completed, so I do not know how that conversation would have gone.

When I pulled onto my street, I noticed a coupe outside my house on the street that I didn’t recognize. I also noticed Lynn’s garage was open, but her car was gone. Instead, Preston was there, looking exhausted.

Instead of parking at my house, I pulled into his driveway.

“Your mom’s not here?”

His lips thinned, and he shook his head.

Fuck.

“Groceries are in the trunk.” I tossed him the keys. “I’ll be right back.”

I’d worry about Lynn and where she disappeared to this time. The second I’m done figuring out what the hell my ex is doing in my house before kicking her out.

I pushed open the front door with more force than I intended. The wood rattled angrily after banging against the wall behind it.

“Oh!” Mom pressed her hand to her chest. “Kevin! You scared me!”

I didn’t spare mom a glance. I was busy glaring at , my fucking ex-wife, sitting on the couch like she owned the damn place. She was older. That was for sure. She was a lot blonder than I remember and had that fake mask that older women get when they get work done to hang onto their youth.

Seeing her there, knowing she somehow pissed my Lynn off more than she already was, made my blood boil.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I sneered through gritted teeth.

The corner of her lips lifted in an amused smirk. “Hello to you too.”

I was on the verge of snapping. “I’m not in the mood for bullshit.”

“What about some coffee?” pointed to the steaming cups sitting on the coffee table. “Your mom just made a pot.”

“I asked you a question.” I slammed my hand on the wall. “What the hell are you doing in my fucking house?!”

“Kevin?!” Mom’s eyes widened. “What has gotten into you?”

“Me?!” I waved my hands angrily at my ex. “Why the hell is she here?”

“Kevin,” Mom tilted her head in disapproval. “I know you two fought last night, but that’s no way to talk to your girlfriend. You said yourself you wanted to-”

“Wait.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. I couldn’t believe this. “Mom, tell me you didn’t….”

“Didn’t what?” Mom was fidgeting, clearly uncomfortable. “Kevin, I don’t understand.”

“I know,” I rasped. “I know you don’t understand, mom. I know!” I was so angry, so frustrated, I felt like I was about to blow.

“Kevin?....” Mom’s voice was small, laced heavy with confusion.

I took a deep breath before opening my eyes, avoiding looking at my ex so I didn’t lose it again on my mother. “Mom, did you invite here?”

Mom sputtered, looking back and forth between me and . “Well… I… Well, Kevin. You… You said… I think you said….”

“She invited me over for coffee,” spoke up, resting her hand on my mom’s knees. She patted it gently like she was trying to settle her down. “We were just catching up, but I think I need to go now.”

Mom looked more confused, and the range of emotions behind her confused expression made this situation hurt even more. Mom didn’t know what she was doing. I bet she was trying to help. She didn’t know….

But now I don’t know what happened between my ex-wife and my girlfriend, and I’m so scared to find out…

I stood stiffly by the open door as said bye to my mom. My eyes narrowed when they hugged. Mom had that anxious look on her face that she got when she was really confused but trying to hide it.

looked me up and down, a sly look in her eyes. She looked amused by something. I didn’t give a shit what game she was playing. She was done.

I waved my hand towards the open door, making her smile more as she softly shook her head. Her airy laugh as she walked past me grated on my nerves. As did the smell of her overly sweet perfume. Same shit she used to use. I hated it before. I hate it more now.

“I’ll be right back, mom,” I said in a much more gentle tone than I was using before.

She looked worried, her eyes darting to the cups of coffee on the table, then at me.

“It’s alright,” I smiled, trying to reassure her. “It’s okay, mom. I’ll help you get this cleaned up in a second. I’ll be right back.”

My smile fell away once the door was closed, and I was left on the front porch with her . The last person I ever wanted to see again.

The tension was thick. My anger didn’t seem to bother her. She seemed to find it amusing.

“What are you doing here, ?” My voice was low, but laced with all the malice I was currently feeling.

She rolled her eyes. “Jeez. All these years and you’re still carrying a chip on those giant shoulders of yours?”

“Answer the fucking question,” I snapped.

She sighed, looking at her nails. “Your mother invited me.”

“So?” My lips curled in disgust. “That still doesn’t explain why the hell you came.”

She pressed her fingers to her lips, smiling against them. “She was persistent. Very persistent. I was curious, so I came.” She shrugged. “I didn’t even know you were here. I figured you’d still be playing soldier at some base around the world.”

“Playing soldier?” I scoffed. “You’re still a fucking bitch.”

She shrugged. “Maybe.” She looked me up and down. “You’re still the same it seems too. Do they feed you carbs in the Army, or do you survive on protein shakes alone?”

I was about to tell her to fuck off, but then Preston walked back out to the garage to get more groceries out of my trunk. He stared over at us, his brows pulled down, shadowing his eyes.

“Huh,” followed my line of sight. “You have the same car too, it seems. Why is it parked over there and not?....” Suddenly ’s eyes went wide, and she turned to look back at me. “Wait. That neighbor woman?!”

That confirmed it. They met.

shook her head, biting back her cunning smile. “No wonder you’re so pissy. She didn’t look happy to meet me either. It all makes sense.” Her eyes met mine. “You and your neighbor. That’s cute.”

I sneered, “What did you say to her?”

“Nothing,” she grinned. “I think I said ‘hi’ and maybe ‘nice to meet you’.”

“I’m not playing here, .”

“I’m not either. I really said little. Your mom was the one talking the entire time.”

She was chewing on her nail, and I could tell there was more. There was something she wasn’t telling me.

“And…” started again. “Well, your mom called me your girlfriend once or twice. Said something about you being madly in love with me. Your short, little neighbor woman seemed surprised at that.” Her grin grew. “I guess I know why now.”

“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, raking my hands through my hair.

“Hmm,” tilted her head. “Everything makes more sense now. Guess I was worried about nothing.”

“You have no right to be worried about anything concerning me,” I snapped. “Do you realize how big of a shit storm you created?”

“Oh, I wasn’t concerned for you, Kev. Never was. You were never the type to need me, or anyone else, for that matter. Your mom is a different story.”

My brow pulled down with a mix of anger and confusion. “Mom’s not your problem either.”

rolled her eyes, huffing. “If I had known you were living here again, I wouldn’t have come. The only reason I did was because your mom sounded like she needed help. I was just planning on making sure she was okay and didn’t need to go to the hospital or something, then I was leaving.”

“Needs help, how?” Mom was fine when I left. Confused, but that was nothing new.

“I don’t know. She just sounded crazy. Like she didn’t know which way was up. She thought we were still dating. I got worried and came by. It wasn’t a big deal, but I just didn’t want to feel like shit later if I saw on the news some confused old lady got in an accident driving on the wrong side of the road or something.”

I groaned, pacing on the porch. I should have checked in with mom throughout the day. I should have sent Preston to look in on her, or asked what she was doing when I heard her talking to herself in her room.

She wasn’t talking to herself. She wasn’t rehearsing what to say to Lynn later. Mom was talking to . That had to be it.

“Just go,” I pointed at her car. “If she calls you ever again, ignore it.”

crossed her arms, eying me. “If I fucked something up with your neighbor, I’m sorry. I really wasn’t trying to cause problems for you.”

“I got it!” I snapped. “Just go!”

She sighed, shaking her head. “As hotheaded as ever. Don’t worry. I’m gone.”

She flipped me off, strutting to her car. I stood there sternly, staring until she took off down the road.

When I looked up, I saw Preston watching, too. He was fidgeting with my keys, looking awkward, like he didn’t know what to do with them.

“I’ve got to talk with mom,” I yelled over to him. “I’ll come over when I’m done. Can you-”

“Groceries are put up,” he said before I could finish my sentence. “I’ll be in the kitchen.”

Fuck. I don’t know how much he heard or saw, or what he thought of this shit, but I was suddenly nervous. The kid was a fraction of my age, but when it comes to Lynn, that didn’t matter. If her kids started to hate me, it was over. I was done.

With a heavy groan, I headed back in.

Mom was no longer in her chair. She was in the kitchen, bent over the kitchen sink. Her shoulders were shivering, and I caught the soft sounds of her crying.

“Mom,” I let my irritation fade away, coming behind my mom and hugging her shoulders.

She dropped the sponge she was using to clean the coffee cups. Her shoulders shook more, sinking forward.

“I messed up,” she whispered roughly. “Oh, Kevin,” she turned to face me. Her face was dripping with tears. “I messed up. I… I was…”

“It’s okay, mom,” I whispered, hugging her close as she buried her face in my chest. “You were a little confused. It happens. It’s okay.”

“No,” she whimpered. “It’s not.”

She’s right. It wasn’t okay, but it would be. She didn’t know what she was doing. was gone now, and I was sure no matter how confused Mom was in the future, my ex wouldn’t be back here. Not after today, for sure.

“I’m sorry, Kevin,” Mom cried, her tears soaking the front of my shirt. “She… She met…”

“I know, mom,” I held her tighter, kissing the top of her head. “Lynn will understand. It’s going to be okay.”

I hoped Lynn would understand.