Page 42 of Unexpected Love

“How long?” I ask.

“Gage—” Dad tries to cut in.

“No. We don’t lie to each other.”

“Right.” Mom jumps on that, bringing the conversation back to Ava. “We don’t, so why are you lying about Ava?”

“Nope, you first. How long has this been going on?” I turn back to my dad. “I thought you were seeing that vet a few towns over?”

“Uh, no.” His eyes shift over my shoulder to my mom before coming back to me. “I only went on one date with her.”

“But you let me think you’ve been dating her for what, six months now?”

He squints, thinking about how to respond to that and probably trying to decide if I’m unhappy about this new development.

Well, he can join the club because I have no idea how I feel about this. I know most kids would probably be ecstatic that their parents are back together, but I’m not a child, and I haven’tbeen for a very long time. I’ve experienced a lot of life. Seen both of them in and out of different relationships. I watched them fight hard for the friendship they have today, and I guess if I’m honest with myself, I’m nervous about what happens when this one fails.

“Gage, what your father and I do isn’t really any of your business,” Mom says gently, placing her hand on my forearm and bringing my focus back to her.

I lift an eyebrow. “Really? My parents getting back together doesn’t impact me?” I keep my voice quiet. I don’t know if I would say I’m angry, but I’m definitely hurt.

“That’s not what she said,” Dad interjects. “Look”—his eyes bounce to Mom and right back to me—“if we’re being honest?—”

“Nick,” Mom interrupts.

“Laura.” Dad looks at her over my shoulder, the two of them having a silent conversation. When his eyes come back to me, I see it—the love and devotion in his eyes. In that moment, I realize Dad has always had that glimmer in his eyes when he looks at her. It’s never gone anywhere, even when he was dating or married to someone else.

“Wow.” It comes out as more of a breath than anything else. I turn to look at my mom, trying to read her eyes. She’s always been a little harder for me to read, but I see it in her eyes too—how serious and real her feelings are. “Okay.” I push my plate away from me, my appetite now gone.

“Gage.” Mom reaches for me, but I stand from my seat, stopping her in her tracks.

“No.” I meet her eyes. “You have to give me time to digest this. This clearly isn’t new and is quite serious, but I just found out, and I deserve to figure out what I’m feeling without input from you right now.”

“You’re right,” Dad says, reaching for Mom’s hand, offering her comfort as her eyes fill with tears. “But we also deserve a chance to explain.”

“And I promise I’ll let you, but not right now.” I gesture around us. No one in The Diner is paying us any attention. It’s not out of the norm for me to have lunch with both of my parents, but if we keep talking about this, I have a feeling we’ll draw some attention.

I reach for my wallet but stop when Dad shakes his head. “We’ll take care of it.”

I look between them again, really studying them. I don’t know what I’m feeling other than hurt, but they’re my parents, and I love them.

So I lean forward, placing a kiss to my mom’s cheek, and squeeze my dad’s shoulder before turning to leave The Diner.

eighteen

AVA

“Your Honor,based on the evidence we’ve provided, we feel it’s only right Max’s custody arrangements remain the same. Mr. Marks has done nothing to warrant the removal of Max from his home?—”

“He’s dying! How can that be good for Max?!” Nicole shouts from her side of the courtroom.

I shouldn’t be surprised, based on everything I’ve been told about Nicole, but I am. I assumed her lawyer would have given her the same speech I gave Scott and everyone else. You don’t speak in a courtroom unless the judge asks you a question directly. You always let your lawyer do the talking.

Honestly, things had probably been going too smoothly. I should have known an outburst was around the corner, but to say what she just did is uncalled for.

“Your Honor!” I call.

“Order! Counselor, get a hold of your client,” the judge warns.

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