Page 49 of Unexpected Love

I may have only known him for a little over a month, but I think it’s safe to call us friends. I’m not willing to call uslovers—even if that title technically fits. Andacquaintancesfeels too impersonal, which definitely doesn’t fit. There isn’t a lot more personal you could get with a person than sex.

And even though our text exchanges turned flirty and were filled with our normal banter, something felt off with Gage. It could have been the case with Tyler’s mom—it’s never easy dealing with child abuse—but I’d been concerned about his response to me before anything happened with Tyler. Something happened between me leaving his house Friday morning and Declan and me getting home from the courthouse. I just have no idea what.

I want to ask him about it but don’t know if it’s appropriate. He’s quickly becoming the person I want to talk to about everything. Somehow, I trust he’ll hold that information until I’m ready to share it with Declan. I trust that he’ll give me that strength he talked about, supporting me in whatever way I need. And at the moment, I just need a sounding board, someone to truly hear me and listen without judgment.

While I might trust Gage, I’m not sure he feels the same way—though I think he might. And if I’m being honest with myself, I want to be close to offer my support if he does decide to trust me with whatever’s bothering him.

Only three more days until I can go home.

And that thought has me stumbling over myself as I descend the stairs to the foyer at my parents’ house.

Massachusetts isn’t home anymore. Ashford Falls is.

“What’s that smile for?” my father asks as he meets me at the bottom of the stairs.

It’s their annual Christmas Eve party, where they invite all their friends and colleagues to the house. I’ve never understood the purpose other than to show off their status. Why exactly they feel the need to show off to these people they call “friends” I’ll never know. But I agreed to be here, so here I am.

“It’s nothing,” I say as he leans down to press a kiss to my cheek. I know it’s only for appearances that he’s being affectionate. Guests are already milling around, and it wouldn’t look good if the Day family wasn’t affectionate with each other. We wouldn’t want anyone to think there’s tension between us. That isn’t a good look.

Neither of my parents have acknowledged me since I walked in their door a few hours ago to get ready for the party. For the last two days, I’ve been packing up my apartment in Boston and officially breaking my lease with the landlord. I still haven’t told my parents about my plans, but tomorrow should be soon enough.

“You look beautiful,” Dad says as he takes my hand and wraps it around his arm, guiding me into the formal sitting room where I’m sure my mother is greeting guests as they arrive.

“Thank you.”

I decided on a simple vintage-style, velvet sheath dress in a deep forest green for this evening. The top has a faux wrap style, creating a low v-neckline and there’s a slit going up the front center of the dress that allows my legs to peak out as we walk. It’s simple but comfortable and elegant enough to make my parents happy.

“Gregory, there you are,” my mother says, taking his hand and pulling him to her side once we’re close enough.

Looking at the two of them together now, with their smiles and bright eyes, you would never know the hurt they’ve causedme and my brother. I can see the fakeness behind them, but their so-called friends eat it up.

Say what you will about my parents, but they make a fine-looking couple.

Even at sixty, my father still has a lean and athletic build. His hair, a distinguished grey color, is kept short and styled back to stay off his face. Most people would say he has a rugged appearance due to his high cheekbones and strong jawline, but most would also say he has an approachable manner.

A stranger would likely talk about my mother's striking beauty and poise. Like my father, she has high cheekbones and a defined jawline, though her eyes are bright blue whereas his are hazel. Most would say she’s elegant, with a slender build giving her a graceful demeanor. And at fifty-eight, while she dyes her hair to cover the white, very few fine wrinkles scatter her face.

They’re dressed like a couple walking the red carpet tonight—my father in a Tom Ford tux and my mother in an A-line, black Marc Jacobs dress. They look like the power couple they are.

“Ava, darling.” My mother reaches for me, taking both my hands in hers, squeezing tight and pulling me in to kiss both my cheeks. The smile on her face as I pull away has never been more fake. “I’m glad you’re home.”

I offer her a polite smile but say nothing. Now is definitely not the time to tell them I’m moving to Ashford Falls. They hated when my brother did it and I wouldn’t be surprised if they disown me when I tell them I’m doing it, too.

I stand with my parents as they greet their guests, smiling and saying all the right things but desperately counting down the seconds until I can slip away unnoticed.

While I’ve never been the biggest fan of these parties, I’ve never been as miserable as I am now. Maybe it’s because this is the first one where Declan isn’t standing by my side, but part of me knows it’s more than that.

Until everything happened with Brian and my parents, I’d been content with my life. But since going to Ashford Falls and finally making decisions for me and no one else, I realize I was just going through the motions. I wasn’t completely happy now, but I was much closer to it than I was before I left Massachusetts.

I was excited to go home and start this new adventure. I was going to take Scott’s advice and try new things. I wasn’t sure what I would try exactly, but there were so many options. I could go ice skating—something I hadn’t done since I was a kid. Or maybe I could pick up crocheting or knitting. I could try painting like Declan, or maybe I could try a different art medium like pottery. Yoga, baking, rollerblading, gardening! There are so many things I could try, and I’m going to make a point of doing just that.

“Martha! Paul!” My mother’s voice brings me back to the present.

My eyes immediately shift to my father, who swore the Wellsleys wouldn’t be in attendance this evening. This might not be Brian, but it is his parents.

Before my father can say anything, my mother’s voice breaks through my thoughts again. “Brian, I’m so glad you could make it back from Chicago in time.” She presents her cheek for him to kiss.

“How could I miss my future mother-in-law’s annual Christmas party?”

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