Page 124 of From Nowhere

“You want us to buy your house so you can move in with another woman? No. If you don’t need us, then we’re leaving.”

“I didn’t say I don’t need you.”

“If you have time to fall in love and move in with someone, then I think that’s a pretty clear indicator that you don’t need us. Your mom can watch her.”

“My mom can’t get her from school in the fall,” I say, tossing the towel aside while Amos slinks out of the kitchen like he always does when things get heated.

“Then askMarento do it.” Tia narrows her eyes, tipping her chin up a fraction.

“Maren has a job.”

“And that’s my problem?”

I rub the back of my neck and sigh. “It’s not. You’re making this into a vendetta. I’m simply asking if you want to stay close to your granddaughter after she no longer needs you to help her home from school.”

“Don’t use her as a pawn, Ozzy.”

“A pawn?” I cough a laugh. “How amIusing her as a pawn? I’m asking you a hypothetical question. Period. You’re the one putting conditions on helping out with her. As long as I stay single and submissive to your every request, you’ll help with Lola, but if I want a life beyond the role of grieving widower, you’re ready to pack up and leave. So if you’re only here to control me, you might as well pack up and leave now. But if you’re here for Lola and Brynn, stop making this about me.”

This is why I’ve avoided the subject for a month. I knew it wouldn’t go well. Tia is a stubborn woman with an eternal broken heart and a just-as-eternal grudge.

She draws in a long breath and holds it. On the exhale, she gives me a fake smile. “We’ll start packing our stuff tonight. And tomorrow we’ll tell Lola why we’re leaving.”

I’m fucked, but I can’t bring myself to beg and submit any longer. “We’lltell her tomorrow so there’s no confusion about why you’re leaving.”

“Grow up, Ozzy.” She scowls before retreating to her bedroom.

Running my hands through my hair, I exhale a long breath as my phone vibrates in my pocket. “Hey,” I answer, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“What’s wrong?” Maren asks.

“Nothing. Sorry. How are you?”

“I’m eating crappy hotel food in my sketchy hotel bed after a boring day of waiting for the powers that be to get their heads out of theirasses and send us where we’re needed. Let’s get back to you. Why do you sound so exhausted?”

“You’re in Canada. Lola’s at my mom’s. And I just had dinner with Tia and Amos. And the postdinner conversation didn’t go well, but it is what it is. I’m going to ride over to Diego’s house. That should help.”

“I’m sorry you had a bad evening. Who’s Diego?”

“My best friend.”

“Why am I just now hearing about this Diego guy? And I thought I was your only friend,” she says.

I grin, heading downstairs. “Why have you never asked about my other friends? Also, you’re so much more than a friend.”

“A lover?”

“The best lover.” I put her on speaker and toss the phone onto my bed while changing from jeans into shorts.

“A psychiatrist Jamie used to work with told her that there are some promising studies on VR use for symptoms of anxiety in people with phobias. As a side note, the doctor is obsessed with virtual reality—a gamer like Will. Coincidentally, Will took her virginity before she was eighteen because she was a prodigy in med school before she was old enough to vote. But Jamie said Dr. Reichart knows her stuff. It seems worth a try.”

“How old was Will when he took this girl’s virginity?”

Maren giggles. “That’swhat piqued your curiosity from everything I just told you?”

“Will’s your backup husband, so I’m curious about the man you deem worthy of such an honor.”

“You think it’s an honor to be a backup husband?”

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