Page 73 of Ruin

“She’ll be all right. Better off without him.” Nary and I shared a look, probably thinking the same thing—how we were better off without our dad in our lives.

“There’s still somethin’ different,” Dad said, not letting it drop.

“Shouldn’t you guys get goin’ to the barbeque?” I asked, sucking back the last of my coffee.

Mum suddenly gasped. “You’ve met someone.”

What the fuck? Were my parents mind readers?

I chuckled, then sobered. Maybe this was a part of why Taro sent me away. To see if I’d come out to my family. To show him I wasn’t scared of having a man at my side.

“You did,” Nary exclaimed.

“Oooh, what’s her name?” Rayne asked.

“Is she someone from Mimi’s family? Does she have a sister or cousin?” Mum questioned.

“How about we let him talk?” Dad said.

Did I want to tell them? I wasn’t going to hide it, but was now a good time to inform them I was interested in a guy?

Rayne nudged me in the side. “Come on, tell us.”

“Are we going to meet her?” Nary asked.

“It’s still new,” I said, my cheeks heating. It was new, but I hoped they would meet him one day.

My gut clenched from nerves. I knew my family would accept this change, but a small part of me worried they wouldn’t fully believe me since I’d only had women in my life. Also, it was easier to accept it from outsiders, not someone in their close family.

Sighing, I scrubbed a hand over my face and leaned back in the seat. “But one day, yeah, you’ll meet him.”

Silence.

All of them wore puzzled expressions.

“Huh? Him?” Rayne questioned.

Nary snorted, then laughed. “Good one, bro.”

Mum and Rayne laughed as well, thinking I was joking. Only Dad sat there and stared at me. He knew I was telling the truth, and to prove it to the others, I pulled out my phone and hit a number, putting it on speaker.

“Josh,” Taro answered softly.

“Hey, quick question, are we seein’ each other?”

He paused, probably confused by my question. “Yes, why?”

“My family didn’t believe me,” I told him.

“Hang on, wait, let me get this straight…. You rode home, went to your family, and told them about me?”

“Yep. And don’t worry, Mimi’s safe at the compound with Cowboy.”

“I wasn’t worried. I knew you would get her there, but… have you lost your damn mind?” he yelled, which brought a smile to my face.

“How?”

“You don’t go away for a month, go home, and just throw this in their faces. You’re crazy! They must think I’ve corrupted you somehow.”

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