Page 13 of The Last Goodbye

So I’d stopped. Even when every instinct in me told me not to.

I squeezed my eyes closed in an effort to calm myself down.

Going back to that time in my life was not easy.

“And then what did your mother do after that, Jov?”

“Our mother.”

“Fine. What did our mother do after that?”

“She left with Ray,” she whispered.

“She left with the man who’d punched her daughter in the face. The man who threatened to press charges against me when I defended you. She stood beside him and left us there. And no one was surprised, because it wasn’t even remotely out of character for her. She’s never been a parent to you or to me. So why the fuck do you expect her to show up now?”

I hated the anger in my voice. The way my hands fisted on my desk.

This was a topic that I had no patience for.

And every couple of years, our mother would reach out to my sister and try to worm her way back in, only to disappoint her again and again.

“I’m not looking for a mother, Bass. It’s too late for all of that. But it’s not too late to have a relationship with her. To wish her well and hope that she can turn her life around. It doesn’t mean I’m expecting her to be a mother to me. Just to be…better.”

I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. Jovi had a heart of gold, so of course she wanted the woman to be okay.

I, on the other hand, no longer gave a shit about what happened to her. I’d spent too many years worrying about it—and eventually my eyes had opened to who she was.

I sighed. “You deserve so much better. You know that, right?”

“You don’t get it, Bass.” She paused for a few seconds. “I already have the best. I have you.”

My chest hurt at her words. My sister was good to her core. I wanted everything for her. She deserved it.

“Thanks. But you know what I mean. Don’t get your hopes up with Mom. She’s got a really strong track record of letting you down. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“I’m a grown-up, big brother. I can handle it.” She chuckled and added, “I’m just excited that you guys will all be there, and if she comes, it’s just icing on the cake.”

My friends were all going with me to New York to see Jovi graduate. They were our family, not by blood, but by something even stronger.

Life.

History.

A deep friendship.

“We’ll be there. I’m excited for you.”

“Thanks.” Her voice wobbled a bit, which had me sitting up a little straighter. “You know that I appreciate you stepping up for me my entire life, right?”

“I always will, but that’s not what this is about. I don’t need praise or anything like that. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I’m not talking about Mom; I’m talking about you. What you’ve done for me. The sacrifices you’ve made. They don’t go unnoticed.”

I reached for my water as a large lump settled in my throat. I took a sip. “It’s never been a sacrifice, Jov. You know I’d walk through fire for you.”

“Well, I’d do the same for you.” She paused before chuckling. “I’m sure you won’t mind those tuition bills being gone.”

“That I won’t mind,” I said with a loud laugh. “And I can’t wait to see you conquer the world in the Big Apple.”