Page 20 of Saving You

Ridge hated the way that made his stomach burn hot with something like jealousy and resentment. It wasn’t like he had any claim over Oz. The guy was straight, besides. “Why’d they break up?”

“Oh,” Alora said, waving her hand dismissively as she came into the room. She peered at a photo of Oz and Darcy at the beach. “They started having major problems once Oz got thatwild hair up his ass about wanting the people in his life to use sign language.”

Ridge’s brows furrowed. “She doesn’t sign?”

“Um, no?” Alora stared at him. “I mean, who does, really?”

‘I do,’ he answered her on his hands. ‘My daughter’s Deaf.’

“Yeah, but you’re like, what, point-five percent of the population?” Alora answered him aloud.

He was more annoyed that she understood ASL and refused to use it with her brother. “And that’s a reason to not use your brother’s primary language?”

Alora’s eyes blazed. “It’s not his primary language. Just because he joined some club in college and got brainwashed by a cult that likes to call itself a community?—”

“Oh my God,” Ridge breathed out. He held up his hands, opened his mouth, but he realized nothing kind was going to come out, and he didn’t want to be asked to leave. He was here for Oz. “I’m gonna go.”

“You know I’m right!” Alora called after him as he headed out of the room. “And you’ll realize I’m telling the truth once your daughter comes home from her school telling you that even though you’re her dad, you’ll never be part of her world.”

He had a million things to say about that, but he wasn’t going to bother. Not there. Not now. He wasn’t there to pick a fight with Oz’s family. He hadn’t been asked to help fight that battle, no matter how much he wanted to.

God, he wanted to go home right then and hug his daughter and remind her that she was perfect exactly the way she was. His stomach felt sour and queasy as he navigated through a small, gathering crowd in the kitchen.

He was nearly at the back door when a flash of blonde hair caught his eye, and when he turned his head, he recognized the face immediately from the pictures. Darcy. She was there. Hehad a sudden sinking feeling that the afternoon was going to go from bad to worse.

“Hey,” he said as he slipped onto the deck and looked over at Grady, “have you seen Oz?”

“He’s with the kids,” Grady said, pointing his tongs.

Ridge took a deep breath and slid closer. “Did you know about this Darcy thing?”

Grady rolled his eyes. “His ex? Yeah, I’ve met her a bunch of times. They always invite her to family gatherings. Alora and her mom think they can set up some BS rom-com scenario to get them back together, but…” Grady trailed off and shrugged. “Last time I talked to Oz, he seemed pretty damn sure they were done for good.”

“Is she mean?” Ridge couldn’t help but ask.

Grady shrugged. “She’s always been real polite to me and the kids. I think she’s got her head filled up with some idea of what she and Oz are supposed to be, and no one wants to accept he’s made different choices for himself. That’s why I told Alora I didn’t want her here today.”

Ridge’s stomach sank, even though that did make him feel even better about Grady. More than ever, he wanted to ask why he was with a woman like Alora. How could he reconcile the person she was to her own family with the person he’d fallen in love with?

He glanced back at the sliding door, then nodded. “Thanks, man. I’m gonna go mingle.” Ridge slipped off the deck and made his way to the tall jungle gym, where a bunch of kids were playing some kind of chasing game, and Oz was leaning against a tall magnolia tree, staring down at his phone.

“Hey,” Ridge said aloud.

Oz looked up and bit his lip, raising his hand. ‘Hi.’

‘I want?—’

‘Sorry,’ Oz and Ridge signed at the same time.

Ridge laughed and shook his head. ‘Don’t be sorry. I didn’t mean to overstep.’

‘No,’ Oz signed quickly. ‘You didn’t. It was nice. I needed that hug. It’s embarrassing that I’m so weak.’

Ridge’s shoulders tightened as he stepped even closer. ‘You are not weak. You’ve been put through a lot, and you don’t deserve to deal with this every time you come see your family.’

‘I want to learn how to tell them no,’ Oz signed, his face full of distress. ‘I want to learn how to grow a spine.’

‘I,’ Ridge started. He was going to tell Oz about Darcy right then because the man deserved to know. But before he could get the chance, Oz’s mom was calling his name.

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