Page 6 of Unsaid Things

“Now, Lance—“

“No.” He pointed his finger at his dad. “I don’t know what your problem is, but don’t. Don’t start.”

“I’ll start whatever I like. This is my house, and while you’re here I won’t have—“

“Jon.” His mom’s quiet voice interrupted his dad’s tirade, a question clear on her face.

Lance took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. Only his dad could push his buttons this much. “We live together. We share an apartment. Why wouldn’t you think we’d expect to stay in the same room while we were here?” Good. He’d managed to keep his voice calm, reasonable.

“It’s okay, Lance. I can stay in the guest room.”

Abby’s voice had Lance whipping around. He hadn’t even realized she’d followed him down. “What? No. No, you won’t. You’re staying with me.” He turned to face his dad again. “She’s staying with me. If that’s a problem for you, I’ll book us a hotel. But she’s not staying in the guest room.” He stopped himself from saying “fucking guest room,” but just barely.

His dad’s mouth opened, but his mom’s voice spoke next. “Of course, Lance. You don’t need to get a hotel.” She shot a glare at his dad, who’d snapped his mouth shut, a glower on his face now.

Lance nodded once, turned, and led Abby back upstairs, his mom’s soft voice chastising his dad following him from the room. Goddammit. He ran a hand through his hair, so frustrated with everything. What the hell was his dad’s problem? Was he still mad at him for not moving back here and working at the garage? It had been months. His mom had assured him that his dad was fine with everything, had agreed that it was wrong to keep him in Denton when he belonged elsewhere, doing what he wanted, with the woman he loved. Had she lied to him? Or just hoped that by telling him that it would eventually be true?Fuck.

He left Abby in his room and stomped down the hall to the guest room to retrieve her suitcase. Gabby poked her head out of her room on his way back, her brows wrinkled with concern. “Everything alright?”

He let out a sigh, trying to calm down. He shouldn’t let his dad get to him this much. “Yeah. It’s fine. We’re fine. Don’t worry about it.”

She didn’t look like she believed him, but said, “Okay,” and waited for him to get into his room before she went back into hers.

Lance set Abby’s suitcase next to his and flopped back onto the bed where she sat, pulling her down next to him. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I don’t—”

She squeezed him, cutting him off, then propped herself up and ran her hand over the stubble on his cheek. “It’s fine, Lance. I’m okay.”

“Are you?” She hadn’t seemed okay since they’d landed.

But she nodded. “Yeah. Or at least I will be. Your mom and your sister are great, and I think we’ll have fun, even if Gabby is kinda overwhelming with all her talking. But that just means I won’t have to talk as much, right?”

He smiled back at her. “Right. Gabby grew into her nickname, that’s for sure. Don’t worry, though. Marissa isn’t as chatty as Gabby is. I think you’ll get along with her really well.”

“Good. I’m looking forward to meeting her.”

He pulled her in for a kiss, then tucked them both under the covers. The smell of his mom’s fabric softener washing over him, making him feel at home. He pulled Abby close, spooning her to his front, and listened to her breathing even out and settle into the slower pattern of sleep. But the confrontation with his dad had him too keyed up to sleep too. So he contented himself with holding her, glad that his mom was on his side, even if his dad was being an ass.

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