Free Perfectly Imperfect (Perfectly #1) by Fabiola Francisco

to.”
    “Does your mom still live there?” Curiosity gets the best of me and I can’t help but ask him.
    He snorts, looking straight ahead with a grim expression. Maybe I’ve crossed the line in asking. Before I could try and take back what I’ve just said, he begins to speak. “Yeah, if you can even call her that. She wasn’t much of a mom growing up, even less now that we’re grown up. My dad left when we were really little, and ever since that day, she’s been hopping from guy to guy. I lost count of how many marriages she has under her belt. The guys she had around were good for nothings, and the last thing they wanted to deal with were two kids. They would kick us out of the house all day so they can do God knows what. It would be dark and way after supper before they’d let us back in. I don’t know where she picked those winners, but it was the same every time. It was probably her idea to have us out of the house.
    “I would take care of my brother as much as I could, and make dinner for us both. Sometimes I’d have snacks packed before we left so we wouldn’t go hungry during the day. I learned that trick early on after husband number three wouldn’t let us return until after midnight. I remember one time Logan tried to sneak in through a window to get to bed, and he caught him. I tried to warn him not to, but he was stubborn. That man was mean. When he caught Logan getting into bed he threw him across the room. I quickly jumped in to protect him and took the blow for him. He kicked me in the ribs. I yelled so loud, I’m sure the neighbors heard. My mom just stood at the door and watched. She probably thought we deserved it. That husband was the one I hated the most. That was the night I began to hate my mother, too. We were her blood, and she always chose some asshole pimps over us.”
    Grayson didn’t look my way at all while speaking. He won’t even look at me now. He just stares out over the edge looking at nothing in particular. I can feel the anger and resentment emanating from his body. I just want to hug him. “Grayson, I’m sorry I brought it up.” I feel guilty I even asked. “I didn’t mean to upset you. Had I known-”
    “Don’t apologize, Mia. It’s not your fault. You asked a question. I didn’t have to answer, but I wanted to.” I reach over and squeeze his hand gently. He wraps the arm he has placed behind me around my shoulder and pulls me into him.
    “If it makes you feel better, I know what it’s like to resent your mom.” I reply dryly.
    “I know you do.” He says matter-of-factly, but doesn’t push to know anymore.
    Since that night he came over, I felt like I could trust him, maybe because he understands me. I slowly feel my walls giving in a bit, and I want to tell Grayson about my parents, too. “My mom is a class act. She’s a selfish whore. She cheated on my dad countless times, always finding someone better, younger, richer. My dad suffered so much. He wasn’t stupid. He knew what was going on, but he loved my mom and rationalized her actions. They finally got divorced when I was a teenager.
    “My dad refused to believe it when she served him with the papers. She was finally leaving him for a younger guy. A model I might add. That didn’t last too long either. He got really depressed after she moved out, drinking himself to sleep most nights. I took care of him as much as I could, but I had school and other responsibilities.
    “They always used me as the middle person through the divorce, negotiating me so each could get what he or she wanted. My dad tried to keep her by saying he wouldn’t grant joint custody, and since she cheated, chances are she wouldn’t have gotten it. My mom would tell my dad to pay her more alimony or he wouldn’t be able to see me at all. Apparently she had a say in it since she was the woman. I never would’ve allowed that to happen. I was upset my dad didn’t leave her before, but I love him.
    “Finally she denied all