Page 93 of Dessert Flirt Repeat
I’m stammering. “W-Why didn’t you tell me this?”
“Because every time we bring him up to you, you get pissed. You shut down. You don’t want to hear anything about him. We get tired of you snapping at us, so we just don’t bother anymore.”
I’m dazed as I take in everything my brother’s said. My dad has been actively rebuilding his relationship with my siblings—and seems to be doing a decent job of it. I can’t believe it.
“People can change, Gage. It’s not easy, but it’s possible. Dad seems to be putting in the work to be a better father to us. I’m not saying that it’ll end up perfect. Maybe it won’t. But I think this is a relationship worth trying to salvage.”
Despite everything Tyler has said, anxiety and anger rocket through me at the thought of seeing our dad.
“I don’t know,” I mutter. “It’s a lot to think about.”
“Is it?” Tyler twists his head to look at me. “I threatened to make a move on your ex, and you forgave me. After you knocked the wind out of me, but still. You gave me a chance to explain myself. You gave me a chance to make things right between us.”
“You’re my brother. Of course I’d do that for you.”
“And he’s your dad. Doesn’t he deserve a chance too?”
I go quiet at the ironclad point my brother just made.
“You were wrong to get angry at Becca,” Tyler says after a long moment. “You know that now, right?”
The realization lands like a kick to my gut. “Yeah.”
He claps a hand on my shoulder. “Then make it right, little brother.”
He stands up, grabs the ice, then walks back into the house, shutting the door behind him.
I stay sitting alone in the garage for what feels like minutes, in a daze. There are so many things I have to do to make things right that I’m dizzy just thinking about it all. But after a moment, the answer is so clear, so obvious.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and call the one person I never thought I would.
Chapter26
Gage
When I walk into Seb’on in the upscale Cherry Creek neighborhood, my heart is in my throat. It’s empty since it’s nine in the morning and they don’t open until noon. I take in the rectangular dining space with the open kitchen in the middle, like an island of stainless steel in a sea of black marble flooring and fixtures with dark walnut furnishings.
It looks the same as the last night I was here over a year ago…when my dad fired me and I cut him out of my life.
“Gage?”
I spin around at the sound of my name. When I see my dad standing ten feet from me, his blue eyes tired and hopeful, I hold my breath. I have no idea what I’m supposed to do or say right now. I didn’t think that far ahead.
The corners of his mouth quirk up in a small smile. His short-trimmed beard has more gray in it than the last time I saw him. That thought sends a jolt of pain through me.
It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other.
“You’re here,” he says.
“I said I would be.” I clear my throat when I realize how hard my tone sounds.
He stops walking and frowns slightly. He gestures to a nearby two-person table. “Would you like to sit for a sec?”
I nod and take a chair. “Thanks for letting me come by.”
“Of course. I was so happy when you called.” He lets out a flustered laugh that unnerves me. He sounds so nervous, like he’s not sure what to do or say to me right now.
“How’s your mom?” he blurts.
