Because You Need Me (Falling for You, Book Two) Read Online Free PDF

quickly.” I dropped my eyes go my lap and immediately was bombarded with the warmth of arousal, remembering the last time we were together. The way he told me to come sit beside him and touched me. He'd branded me in such a way that every time I went out to eat, I'd think of him fingering me beneath the table. It was sexy and more than a little distracting considering my mom was beside me. “I'm really happy.”
    “And he does well for himself? Your father looked him up on Google and he's apparently very wealthy.”
    It took her no effort at all to knock all the air from my sails and plunk me back in reality. I should have known when she asked about him she was really asking for his most recent 1040.
    “Yes.” I clenched my teeth. “He's wealthy.”
    “That's fantastic, Penelope!” Suddenly, she could care less if we were at a burger place or some hole in the wall with God knows what glommed on the table. I could see the dollar signs in her aquamarine eyes. Me landing a rich dude brought her more pride than any of the other things I'd accomplished. The rage snuffed out all the joy that flickered when she said his name.
    “So let me get this straight. I graduate at the top of my class, get a job less than a month out of college, and am spearheading a statewide initiative on special education reform, but the fact that I have a boyfriend who's swimming in money makes you happy?”
    “Lord have mercy,” she sighed, her southern roots rearing its head. “You should have majored in drama because you seem abundantly skilled in turning everything into some Greek tragedy.” She glanced down at her nails, solidifying how silly she thought I was acting. “You know I'm proud of you, Penelope.”
    “Right. That's why you can't even look at me.” I felt the heat rush across my face. Anger, embarrassment, and frustration turned me inside out. “Do you know how it feels to only matter based on who I'm dating? My worthiness should have nothing to do with my boyfriend's salary. It's more than insulting, Mom. It's infuriating.” Even with all the chatter around us masking our conversation, I knew that I was embarrassing her and that was a fate worse than death. Honestly, after years of suffering in silence, I could care less if the entire city heard me. “Why can't I be enough?” I spat. “Just me?”
    Her eyes scanned our immediate vicinity, her cheeks flushed like she expected everyone around us to be riveted and listening to every word. Judging us. When she realized that we just weren't that interesting, she relaxed and finally met my gaze. “You are enough, Penelope. That's why it's so frustrating when you sell yourself short.” She gestured at my outfit. “Hiding behind oversized skirts and dingy t-shirts.” She reached toward my hair and lifted one of my limp strands. “God only knows the last time you had your hair trimmed. You are such a beautiful young woman. Clearly your genes shined through, because you caught Xander's eye when you were...like this. Just imagine how you'd shine if you took some pride in your appearance! The places you could go in your career-”
    “My career?” I didn't need to derail the train to Crazy Town because it was becoming more obvious that my mother just didn't get it, but I couldn't let that fly unchallenged. “I'm a teacher, Mom. Not a runway model. Not a fashion blogger. My appearance has nothing to do with helping kids!”
    She peered at me like I was slow on the uptake. “Surely you don't plan on teaching forever? Maybe administration? Or if you play your cards right, maybe you'll snag Xander and you won't have to work at all!” She smiled like there was nothing but blue skies ahead of me. “I can't wait to meet him. He's coming to the wedding, right?”
    I blinked at her. I came from this woman's body. She rocked me to sleep every night, kissed my boo boos, and growing up, I could remember moments where I felt loved. They were few and far between, with far more memories