Page 66 of The Hang Up

Almost there. “What are people doing?”

“Skiing!”

“Yes.” I grinned at him, and I was sure everything I felt for him was showing on my face, but I didn’t care.

He motioned for me to keep going. Oh, right. We were still playing.

“Time. Right, Sean? Time?” Matthew asked, but Sean was standing perfectly still, staring at us, his mouth open.

His brows furrowed together. “I don’t understand, Dad. Did you tell him about your trip?”

I stood, shoving my hands in my pockets. “No. Brock was with me.”

Sean laughed, and it sounded a little wild. “Was it for your nonprofit? Was he helping you with something? Because I thought it was a romantic getaway. I thought you took your lady friend.”

“Lady friend?” Nev asked, but Missy shushed her.

“Sean, there was no—I took Brock.”

“Why? I don’t understand.” He turned to Brock. “What’s going on?”

Brock gave Sean a helpless look and faced me. “You don’t have to do this. If you’re not—”

“Do what?” Sean said, getting louder. “Just tell me what’s going on.”

“I’m done lying. Pretending.” I turned to my son. “Brock and I are together.”

“Together?” His eyes begged me to say it wasn’t true. But I was done lying.

“I’m in love with Brock,” I said, hoping he’d forgive me but knowing it wouldn’t change anything if he didn’t.

“You are?” Brock asked, his voice quiet.

I nodded. This man was everything. He was willing to wait for me. But I was tired of waiting. “I love you so much. I’m sorry—”

He shook his head, stopping my words. “Don’t be sorry.” Tears were streaming down his face, but his smile was for me.

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

Right. We weren’t alone, and I still needed to salvage my relationship with my son.

“Sean, you told me to go for it. That I deserved to be happy.”

“He’s twenty-three years younger than you. And he’s …” He waved his hands around. “A he.” He turned to Brock. “What about you?”

I started to step forward to shield Brock, and even before he put his hand up to stop me, I realized what I was doing. I stepped back. He could handle this.

“I’m sorry, Sean. We didn’t want to hurt you. But I love him, and I think you’ve known that.”

He shook his head like he still couldn’t make sense of it all. “Regina? Are you okay with this?”

I braced myself. Hoping that Brock was ready for whatever she had to say.

“Brock is old enough to make his own decisions. He’s an adult. Hell, he was acting like an adult when he was still a kid. I’m not thrilled, but I trust my son.”

“Babe—” Ben reached for Sean, but he pushed his hands away.

“Everyone’s fine with this?” He gestured to the room. “With my dad dating my best friend? He used to coach our little league team. How is this okay?”

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