Lia sits a little taller, her confidence growing. “The only reason the wedding planning is stressful is because we’re being forced to get married in four weeks, your mother is trying to take over, and no one seems to be listening to me besides Breaker.”
“Because Breaker wants nothing more than for our relationship to fail,” Brian says. Oh wow, look at that. We finally have something we can agree upon.
“He’s been nothing but supportive. He even gave me tips on how to give you a blow job . . . one you didn’t want.”
“Jesus, Mary,” The Beave says, clasping her hand over her chest as Brian stares me down. I just shrug my shoulders because honestly, what else can I do at this point? I lean back and take a sip of the bubbly while I enjoy the theatrics. “Can we show an ounce of decorum?”
“Why the hell are you talking to Breaker about our sex life?” Brian asks.
“What sex life?” Lia announces, and it takes everything in me not to laugh. “You barely even look at me when I’m naked.”
Babe, I would look at you naked every fucking chance I got. Then proceed to fuck you until you can’t take anymore.
“Ophelia, lower your voice,” The Beave chastises.
“Why? So people don’t hear that your son would rather spend his nights working on his computer than fucking me in bed?”
I’m pretty sure the gasp that escapes The Beave’s mouth can be heard three blocks away.
And the clutching of her pearls is the perfect addition to her outrage.
Oh, this is good.
This is really fucking good. I can’t hold back my smile or stop from wishing there to be more.
Keep it coming, Lia.
“Lia, enough,” Brian says. “That is a completely inappropriate way to talk to my mother.”
“But she can act like I’m a second-class citizen, and you have no problem with that? Don’t you see the issue here, Brian?”
I do. *mentally raises hand* I see it bright as day.
Speaking quietly and in an even tone, The Beave says, “Let’s all take a deep breath and focus on the cake.”
Lia completely ignores her and turns toward Brian. “You will always take her side, no matter what. She can say to my face how I don’t meet her standards, but because she’s so desperate to see you married, she’ll settle for me as a daughter-in-law. Do you understand how fucked up that is, Brian? Why would I want to enter a family who treats me like that? Why would I want to be with a man who allows his family to treat me like that?”
Brian’s eyes flit to his mom and then back at Lia. “Mother is right. I think we all need to take a deep breath.”
“I don’t need a deep breath,” Lia says. “I have never in my life seen anything more clearly.” She stands from the table and pulls her engagement ring off her ring finger and places it on the table.
Another expertly placed gasp by The Beave echoes through the bakery.
I want to slow clap, encourage this valiant behavior because, God Almighty, seeing Lia fired up like this makes my goddamn nipples hard.
“I’m done, Brian. I should have been done a while ago, but maybe I just needed the cold-hearted evidence about why I should be done.”
“What are you talking about?” Brian asks, panic setting in his eyes. I can’t tell if it’s panic from what his mother might say, from the image being portrayed of him, or if he truly is concerned about Lia. Sad that there are so many options to choose from.
“You treat me like I come third in your life, directly under work and your mother, and I don’t want to be with someone who doesn’t consider me their number one. You insult me when you say things like I’m having a mental crisis, that I never should have changed my hair, and that you hate my glasses. You hurt me when you don’t want to touch me at night, when you don’t want to even try something new. I think the only reason I’ve been hanging on for so long is because when I met you, you helped me through the grief of losing my parents. But now, I just wonder if that was out of the kindness of your heart, or if that was you trying to use the loss of them to get closer to me.”
“Lia, that is not true.”
She pushes the ring toward him. “I’m done. I’m done with everything. I’m done feeling like shit when you’re around. I’m done worrying if you’ll actually kiss me or not when you see me. I’m done asking myself if I’m good enough for you, good enough for your family. And I’m done dealing with your psychopath mother. I need more. I want more. And I sure as hell deserve more. Come on, Breaker.”