Page 74 of The Sweet Life

On her sixth birthday, when she’d wished for a new scooter instead, Gia had been relieved, but as she’d seen this morning, her daughter had never given up on that dream. Sadly for her, the father she’d wished for was a nightmare.

There was no emotion in Sage’s voice when she said, “Before you go, leave the keys to my car on the counter.”

“You don’t mean that. I’m not a well man. How do you expect me to get around?”

Gia put her arm around Sage’s shoulder. “Walk? It’s good for your health.”

“I have congestive heart failure!”

“Jake fixed your rental before he left,” Sage said, bending down to pick up the oranges and lemons off the floor.

“You know what? He should thank me for you showing him the door. You would have made his life a living hell. You’re just like your mother.” Aaron snorted. “I bet he’s having a real good time in San Diego bonking his ex-wi—”

Sage drilled an orange at Aaron. He crouched down, covering his head, and that’s when Max attacked. He leaped off the couch, paws and claws out, looking like a flying carpet. He landed on Aaron’s back and took him down.

Once Sage and Gia stopped laughing, they freed Max’s impressive claws from Aaron’s shirt. He didn’t stick around long, rushing to the bedroom to pack his bag and then fast-walking across the living room to get to the front door, keeping an eye on Max the entire way.

“You’re going to regret this. You both are,” Aaron said, storming out and slamming the door behind him.

“For a guy who is supposedly dying from congestive heart failure, he is surprisingly fast on his feet. He wasn’t even breathless.” Gia glanced at her daughter and wrapped her arms around her. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t make light of it. He’s your father.”

Sage hugged her back. “Thank you for rescuing me,” shesaid, letting go of Gia to walk to the couch. She sat and put her elbows on her knees, burying her face in her hands. “I can’t believe I let him drive a wedge between Jake and me. I’m such an idiot.”

Gia sat beside her. “Jake’s a smart guy. I bet he knew exactly what Aaron was up to, and he’d know how difficult it would be for you to take his side over a man you’d been wanting to meet since you were a little girl.” She took Sage’s hand in hers. “I should have handled things differently when you were young. I did try to find him after your third birthday, but I couldn’t, so I thought it was better to act like he didn’t exist.”

“I wish I hadn’t met him. He could have stayed the fantasy father in my head. I loved that guy. Aaron, I…” She looked at her. “He gave me the creeps, Mom. Am I a horrible person?”

“No, just a perceptive one.”

“If I was so perceptive, he wouldn’t have gotten through the front door, and I wouldn’t have had a fight with Jake and asked him to leave.”

“Did he go to San Diego?” Gia asked carefully.

“Yeah, he had to pack up his apartment. He’s having some of his things sent here, and he’s giving away the rest.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “You don’t think Jake and his ex-wife…?”

“No, of course not.”

“That wasn’t a very convincingno, Mom.” Sage leaned back on the couch and lifted Max onto her lap.

“Ignore me. That was just me projecting.” She reached out and patted the purring cat. “I’m sure you know by now that I broke up with Flynn.”

“In a text. Yeah, I know. That’s all I’ve heard about, thatand you joining Aaron’s lawsuit. Willow and I are no longer talking, and honestly, if she keeps talking about you like she has been, I’m never speaking to her again.” She swiped at her eyes. “Why did you end it with Flynn? Everyone thinks it’s because you and Aaron are getting back together, and trust me, just the thought of that makes me want to throw up in my mouth, but from what I just witnessed, he had nothing to do with it.”

Maybe going radio silent hadn’t been the smartest idea. Gia took her phone from her purse and showed Sage the picture of Flynn kissing Cami on the dock.

“I’m sadder about this than finding out my father is a creepy con man who doesn’t care about me.” With her thumb and forefinger, Sage expanded the image. “Maybe it’s not what it looks like. Flynn’s hands are wrapped around Cami’s biceps. You know, like you do when you’re moving someone away from you. He doesn’t look into it either.”

For a split second, Gia let herself see what Sage did and wondered if she’d misread the situation. Then she shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. Eventually, we would have split up. And look at the trouble it’s caused between you and your sister.”

“My cousin,” Sage murmured.

Gia’s heart plummeted to her feet, and she grabbed Sage by the shoulders. “Don’t you ever say that. She’s your sister. You’ve been sisters for twenty-nine years and sisters you’ll always be.”

“Like you and Cami?”

“It’s different. She was gone for twenty-five years.” She pulled Max from Sage’s lap onto her own and sat there quietly with her feelings about her daughters, about Cami, and abouther own mother, understanding finally dawning as she saw the similarities. Her mother hadn’t been playing favorites. She’d been trying to bring her daughters back together again.

Gia stood up with Max in her arms. “Come on,” she said, heading for the door.

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