Page 42 of Love Unwritten

“You truly think your kid wouldn’t choose you?”

I don’t answer him.

He wipes the smile off his face. “You’re serious.”

“They share something special.”

Awareness dawns on him. “Is that why you fired Ellie?”

“No.”

“You’re intimidated by their relationship,” he states, completely ignoring me.

“I never said that.”

“Rafa.” Julian clamps his hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “Come on, man. You know Nico has a heart big enough for the two of you.”

I try to shake him off, but his hold remains tight.

“No one could ever replace you. He worships the ground you walk on, regardless of whatever rough patch you’re going through right now.”

I unleash a pent-up breath. “I wish things were better.”

“Maybe the trip will help.”

“If there even is a trip.”

Julian takes a long pull from his beer bottle. “Maybe you could…”

I stop paying attention to him once I catch Ellie’s blond hair out of the corner of my eye. She is surrounded by a group of people a few years younger than me, and they all cheer as two of the guys from my old soccer team show up with a tray of empty shot glasses and a bottle of tequila.

“To be young and drinking shots without consequences.” Julian sighs wistfully.

“You’re two years older than them.”

He grimaces. “It’s all downhill once you hit thirty.”

My frown deepens when I catch Ellie laughing at one of the guys, and my chest constricts at the carefree look on her face as she smiles at a few people who pull her into a hug.

God. What has gotten into you?

Julian glances over his shoulder. “She looks happy.” He laughs to himself. “Oh look. They’re toasting to her being unemployed.”

I shoot him a scathing look. “I can see that.”

I see the whole damn thing, including the way some asshole I recognize from my graduating class throws his arm around her and sloppily kisses her cheek.

Is that her boyfriend? She has gone on a few dates—that much I gathered from eavesdropping and her requesting time off—but I don’t remember her mentioning being in a relationship.

Don’t tell me you’re jealous?

No, of course I’m not jealous. Whatever discomfort I feel about her is strictly due to my anxiety about talking to her. My son is counting on me to fix things between us, and I can already tell it’s not going to be an easy battle, seeing as she’s toasting to me being a jerk.

Perhaps it’s best if I let Ellie loosen up a bit with a few shots before demanding some of her time. So instead of heading in her direction and pulling her away from the two guys closing in on her, I spend time with Julian, who is eventually joined by his girlfriend and Nico’s godmother, Dahlia.

I search the bar for her sister, Lily, hoping she can save me from third-wheeling, only to be disappointed when I can’t find her.

I love Dahlia almost as much as I love my cousin, but that doesn’t mean I love spending time with them together. Being anyone’s third wheel makes my skin itch and my chest painfully clench, and I’m desperate for an escape.

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