It’s not Damon and me.
It’s just…not.
I feel her gaze on me but deliberately keep my eyes on my wine glass.
Thankfully, she doesn’t push me. Well, shedoessay, “I think you may be wrong about that, honey,” but that’s quickly followed by, “Do you have time to come to brunch with us before you coach tomorrow?”
“For apple fritter pancakes?” I glance up, smiling at her. “I’ll make the time. Do you guys want to come to the game? Or will you be back on the road?”
Her mouth quirks. “We already bought our tickets.”
“Beth!” I admonish. “You know I could have gotten you some.”
She lifts a shoulder, drops it. “More ticket sales mean that our favorite girl is more likely to keep doing her dream job.”
“Dammit,” I whisper.
“What?” she asks.
I wave my hand in front of my face. “No fair making me teary-eyed.”
“Dammit,”shewhispers.
“What?” I ask, blinking rapidly.
“No fair makingmeteary-eyed.”
John and Beth never had kids—they couldn’t—and they put their retired life and dreams of traveling the US on hold until I was done with college.
I’ll never be able to repay them for that.
I reach out and take her hand. “I hope you’re aware of exactly how much I appreciate and care for you guys.”
“Honey,” she rasps out, fingers spasming around mine, her other hand waving in front of her face as she blinks rapidly. “No fair giving me more teary-eyeness.”
I grin. “You’re tough. You can handle it.”
She grins back. Then her face softens. “You brought so much joy and pride andloveinto our lives.”
I close my eyes, the words wrapping around my heart and squeezing tightly. “Beth,” I whisper.
“I love you, honey,” she murmurs. “I know the old codger and I don’t say it often enough, but we do.”
“I love you too.”
She sniffs.
Isniff.
“Oh geez,” I hear John say as he comes out onto the back porch. “Not this again.”
“John!” she snaps. “Joey and I were having a moment and you ruined it!”
He tugs lightly on my ponytail, smiling at me.
And I know he loves me too.
I can see it in his eyes.
