Page 41 of Last Call

“Dave.”

“It’s true. Ask Jacob.”

Fallon didn’t need to ask Jacob about his feelings. He had expressed his disappointment that she and Andi didn’t pursue a committed relationship.

“I don’t know, Fallon. Since we found out about the baby and Mom met Billie,” Dave’s thoughts trailed off, and he sighed.

“Go on.”

“I just want my kids to feel the way I did when I was with you and Mom.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t get all weird,” David said.

“Weird?” Fallon chuckled.

“Yeah. I love Billie. I mean, it’s awesome having her and Mom together. But that’s new. You know? I guess I’m just saying that I liked it when you took me to practice, and we met Mom and Jacob at Murphy’s.”

“Me, too.”

“I liked that you were there. You were there for all of us,” Dave said. “Billie is there now. I want to be there for my kids.”

“Dave, I’m not sure what to say.”

“I knew it’d get weird.”

Fallon laughed. “It’s notweird.I understand what you’re saying. It makes me realize some things.”

“What things?”

“I liked it, too—being with you.”

“It sucked for you, too—when Dad came home, didn’t it?”

Fallon shrugged. “It did.”

“Did you ever tell Mom that?” Dave asked.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because she was my best friend,” Fallon replied. “And I accepted that she loved your dad.”

Dave nodded. “Life is so fucked up sometimes.”

Fallon laughed. “Fucked up” seemed to be Dave’s mantra for the day. “Listen, your mom and Billie just want to help,” she said. “They don’t want to raise your kid, and I know your mother. She’s not the interfering type. She’s a lot like my mom in that way. I know I joke about my mom. She has opinions about everything,” Fallon said, chuckling. “But she doesn’t interfere. She let me make my mistakes. She warned me when she saw danger lights flashing, but she didn’t put anything in my way. She’s honest. And I know she would do anything for me. Andi is a lot like her. You need to talk to your mom.

“She’ll be pissed.”

“No. She’ll be…”

“Worried?”

“Concerned,” Fallon corrected him.

“Same difference.”

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