Page 37 of Love Complicated

Austin.

Shit got ugly that night. As it turns out, or how Madalyn tells it, she had been seeing Brooks and my dad at the same time and wasn’t sure whose baby it was. Mike, my dad, told my mother he wanted to get married and he wanted me. He didn’t care whose baby it was, he wanted me. He didn’t even want a paternity test done. Years later, my mom had one done, but still, Mike loved me and treated me as his own regardless.

I never confronted my dad about it. I didn’t want him to know I knew.

That night, after the fight with Brooks, I left with a swollen eye and a bloody lip, stole the car and picked up Aly.

That’s the same night I drove the car through the front of Jacob Law while Brooks was working inside it. I intended on hitting him, but it didn’t work out that way. I guess lucky for me because I’d be in jail had that actually been the case.

Knowing all this, how do you think I feel about Aly marrying Austin?

Not good.

Glen sighs, drawing my attention toward him. “I let her marry Austin because you couldn’t get your shit together long enough to man up.”

There’s truth to his words, but then again, there’s not. “That’s bullshit.” I laugh, wiping sweat from my forehead. It’s nearing eight now and still hot as fuck outside. “You and I both know you wouldn’t have approved of me.”

Glen raises his bushy eyebrows. “When did I ever say that?”

He’s right. He never said it. I want to change the focus away from me. “The boys are good kids.”

Though it’s random, Glen’s eyes light up at the mention of his grandkids. “They are. Thankfully they take after Aly.” He glances over at me, the setting sun to the west lighting up the side of his face and his eyes that match his daughter’s. “Where were you? I tried calling you the day she married him.”

“I know.” I saw the number on my phone and knew it was Glen, but couldn’t bring myself to answer it. For Aly’s sake I didn’t answer, and now I think I should have. I knew I wasn’t much back then, but I was a hell of a lot better than that asshole.

“And why didn’t you answer?”

“I don’t know.” I don’t want to be talking about this anymore.

“Tyler even called you.”

I smile, wanting to change the subject. “You’ve always liked me, haven’t you?”

He grunts but doesn’t deny the statement. “Come on, Trouble. We got shit to fix.”

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