Page 35 of Because of You
“No way. Don’t do that. I know you avoid talking to your dad about business, but for the life of me, I don’t know why.”
“Because he is a wildly successful real estate developer, and I own a bar.”
“I’m not even going to explain all the ways that’s a dumb reason. And I just decided. I’m also not going to tell you what I think about the deal. Not until you talk to your dad. You talk to him, and then I’ll give you my opinion.”
“But can’t you just tell me now?” My voice is perilously close to whining.
“No dice, baby boy.”
“A nicer mom would tell me.”
“Well, lucky for you, you got me. Now, what else is happening? How was the gala last night?”
My mind immediately flashes to my arms around Hallie on the dance floor. Hallie chooses that exact moment to get up from her chair across the deck from me, and my eyes follow her as she disappears into the house.
“I’m over here,” says my mom.
I snap my head back around to her. “What?”
She’s looking at me with a shit-eating grin, and I groan inwardly because it’s also herI have just figured something out about yougrin.
“Looks like you’ve finally caught up,” says my mom with a smirk in my direction.
“Caught up to what?”
“What I’ve known for your whole life. I saw the way you just looked at her.”
“Looked at who?” I don’t know why I even bother. No one can play dumb with my mom. She knows everything.
She doesn’t even answer my question.
“Are you finally ready to get off your ass and do something about it?”
I open my mouth to respond, and then my brain catches up. “Wait, my whole life? I haven’t had feelings for Hallie for my whole life.”
She grins triumphantly and I groan, kicking myself for folding that easily.
“You might have only figured it out around high school graduation. But honey, Hallie Evans has been yours since you were six years old, and you handed her your popsicle right over there by the pool when she dropped hers and started to cry. I knew it then and I knew it when you brought Sarah home a couple of years ago and tried to make us all believe you were in love with her. And I saw it every time Hallie brought home that horrible college boyfriend of hers every spring break and you walked around looking like someone told you Pittsburgh was cancelled forever.”
Her eyes meet mine, her gaze soft and comforting and so mom-like.
“And honey, I know it now. You and Hallie are meant for each other.”
“How did you know I figured out I had feelings for her around graduation?
She just gives me a look. “Benjamin Parker, there is literally nothing that goes on with one of my children that I don’t know about. Now the question is, are you finally ready to do something about it?”
I take a deep breath and figure, what the hell. I’m already in deep. “I am. I love her, Ma. I’ve loved her for years. I know it could be complicated with Jules and our families, but I’m so tired of waiting. I can’t do it anymore.”
Her face softens and she reaches over and covers her hand with mine.
“Baby boy, this is your life. Jules is going to be fine and so are our families. I know you love her, and for what it’s worth, I thinkshe loves you too. She just hasn’t quite worked it out yet. She’s yours, and while love is complicated, it’s worth it.” She glances over to where my dad is standing by the grill. As if sensing her, he looks over and throws her a wink. They have always been so in love, so completely in sync with each other.
I want that. With Hallie.
“We had a couple of moments last night at the gala and I think…well, I think maybe she felt it too.”
My mom squeezes my hand. “My money’s on you, and you have the lake magic on your side. Go get her, pal.”
