“And she’s twenty years younger than you.”
Mom touched his arm.
“The age gap—you have to admit, it’s a little intense.”
“There’s a ten year gap between you two,” I countered.
She huffed.
“We’re divorced. Don’t compare your lives to ours. If you want this to work, you have to pave your own way.”
Dad shook his head and put up his hands.
“Wait a minute. How long has this been going on?”
I chewed my lower lip, clutching my coffee cup like my life depended on it.
“Only a few days.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose and heaved a sigh.
“Good. It’s still early. I can talk you out of this.”
Mom clucked her tongue.
“Oh, it’s way too late for that, Barrett.”
Dad turned to look at her. She flicked her eyebrows up with a meaningful look. I squirmed in my chair. I hated it when they did this—communicating silently with one glance, as if they were telepathic.
It took a moment for understanding to flash across my father’s face. Then he stood up so fast that his chair toppled over, clattering against the floor.
“You slept with my fucking daughter?” Dad demanded, staring at Dean hard.
“Dad, please, just listen—” I protested.
Dean shifted position to stand beside me and took my hand.
“Yes, I did.”
“I trusted you,” Dad spat. He’d never been this angry before in my life. He was usually so even-tempered, so level-headed.
“And I will understand if you want nothing to do with me after this,” Dean replied. “You’re my best friend, Barrett. You’ve had my back since we were kids. But Ruby showed me what I’ve been missing all this time. What I’ve been looking for. She lights up my world when it has been so dark for so long.”
A knot formed in my throat as I gazed up at him.
“I know I’ll never deserve her, Barrett,” Dean added. “Believe me.”
“At least you got that part right,” Dad countered in a husky, dry voice.
“But I’ll do everything in my power to make her happy. Every day of my damn life.”
Dad closed his eyes and released a long, heavy breath.
“You got that part right, too.”
Slowly, he sank into his chair. Mom patted his shoulder, rubbing his back. He looked so…tired. Resigned to the truth he didn’t want to accept.
A pause settled over the table, devoid of the previous tension. It seemed as if everyone was simply processing what this revelation would change in the coming future. I traced the ridges and valleys of Dean’s scarred knuckles.
