“I think that I did,” Cat confessed softly. “I want to deny it, of course, but I think he’s right. I did want him to tell me it was all fine and dandy.”
“And that’s not what he did.”
“It’s not,” Cat agreed. “I can’t blame him. I did something terrible, and I have no idea how to fix it. Obviously, an apology isn’t enough.”
“Tate could always help you feel better and make things okay. It’s not surprising that you wanted him to do that again. Some old habits never die. But this time, it’s not his job. First, you have to forgive yourself, of course. Acknowledging your faults and trying to do better is some advanced adulting. It won’t be easy.”
“Luckily, I’ve been an adult for a long time,” Cat said, trying to lighten the conversation. “I’ve been on my own since I was eighteen.”
Grace, however, didn’t laugh or even chuckle. If anything, her expression was somber.
“My beautiful daughter, you have been making adult money since you were a teenager, but I wouldn’t call your life a lesson in adulthood. You’ve lived in a fairytale world for most of that time.”
“Fairytale world?” Cat echoed. “Why do you say that? I worked and made myself a success.”
Grace exhaled a shaky breath, clearly not wanting to get into this, but now, Cat wasn’t going to let it drop. Did her own mother think she wasn’t an adult?
I am an adult, dammit. I’ve been working and traveling the globe for the last fourteen years.
“Yes, you’ve worked hard. Very hard. I understand that the modeling business isn’t all champagne and glamour.” Grace lowered back into her chair, her hands wrapped around her coffee mug. “But what you’ve experienced is hardly real life like most people live it. You had a business manager who paid your bills, made your appointments, and handled all the inconveniences of life. They did all the adulting. All you had to do was work.”
“For the last year and a half, I’ve definitely been an adult,” Cat replied. “It was nice having people to handle things, but I think it’s better now that I’m doing it. I have some sense of control in my life. I do agree that taking accountability for my actions is advanced adulting, though. I want Tate to see that I’m truly sorry for my actions.”
“Then I’m sure he’ll see that,” Grace said, nodding in agreement. “Actions speak louder than words. By the way, how did Tate look?”
Grace Townsend wasn’t being sly in the least.
“He looked fine, which you know, of course.”
Tate had looked better than fine. He’d been devastatingly handsome, but then he always had. Those Winslow genes were powerful stuff. All the kids were good-looking.
She couldn’t deny that seeing him last night had sent a shiver of desire up her spine. Steamy images of the two of them together had flitted through her brain, bringing up hot and steamy memories.
None of which she was going to share with her mother.
“I haven’t seen him in months,” Grace replied, trying to look all innocent, but Cat wasn’t fooled. “I just wondered how he was doing. You know, he and his brothers are pretty much the most eligible bachelors in Winslow Heights. Lots of females have tried, but so far…”
Grace’s voice trailed off, her brows raised in question to her only daughter.
“Mom, I’m not getting back together with Tate.”
“You don’t find him attractive anymore?”
“He’s very attractive, but nothing is going to happen.”
Her mother cleared her throat, a smile playing on her lips.
“Mom, I’m serious. Tate and I are not going to get back together. What we had is long gone. It’s been too many years, and we’re not the same people we were.”
Cat had changed quite a bit, and she was sure that Tate had, too. There was not going to be some romantic second-chance at love story here.
That was all over and in the past. They’d be lucky to be friends.
Chapter
Five
Tate yawnedas he turned down the road that would take him back to Josh and Rachel’s home. The party hadn’t broken up until after one, and here he was back at the house before eight in the morning. His friends had been adamant that he come to breakfast to hang out with everyone again.
