“She may, but I would hope she’d be able to tell me. Her father wouldn’t take that well, at all, so I understand her not wanting to say anything to him.” Ellie scanned the room and raised her hand. “Kate, over here. I’ll let you get back to lunch.” Ellie gave me a half smile as she leaned in toward my mother. “Your son is such a sweet boy to take his mother to lunch. Mine tells me I’m hovering all the time.” She gave us a quick wave goodbye before rushing to the front of the restaurant.
“Yes,” she answered Ellie while leveling her eyes on me. “Such a sweet boy indeed.”
Mom scooted her chair toward me when Ellie was out of ear shot.
“How long? Do we need to get a lawyer?”
I flinched before my jaw dropped. “Lawyer? Mom, what the hell—”
“Nick will come after you when he finds out. She only recently turned eighteen, and if you’re telling me she’s the one, I’m guessing it’s been going on for a while.”
“It hasn’t. I’ve loved her for a long time, but I didn’t touch her until she turned eighteen. I swear, Mom.”
She rested her elbows on the table, taking in a long breath before bringing her eyes back to mine. “If you think you love her, you better be sure.”
“Iamsure. I’m sorry about putting you in this position.” My eyes drifted to where Ellie sat with her sister. “You and Ellie—”
“Ellie knows you well enough to know the type of guy you are. She may not be thrilled about the age difference, but she’d know you’d never hurt anyone—especially PJ. Her brother isn’t going to like this.”
“He knows.”
Her eyebrows jumped. “Jack knows about you and his baby sister? How did he react?”
“He’s … not happy, but I think when we talked, I brought him over to our side. He just wants us to tell their parents before they catch us.”
She nodded slowly. “That would be a disaster of epic proportions. It’s great that our families are so close but it also …complicates things. Permanently. No matter if you stay together or not.”
“There is no ‘or not,’ Mom.” I stiffened, agitated at the thought. “I told you she’s it for me, and I meant it.”
She brought her hand to her lips as a slow smile lifted her cheeks. “I’m happy for you, sweetheart. Truly, I am. But, I worry. If you don’t play this right, this is going to blow up in both your faces. You need to tell her parents. Like in the next day. Got me?”
My eyes dropped to the table. “I got you.” I wanted to tell her that it was much easier in theory. PJ wasn’t a minor, but I knew her hesitation in telling her parents was her fear of Nick’s reaction and of disappointing him. Mom was right, if we didn’t play this right, it would be an epic disaster. Losing PJ wasn’t something I could think about for more than a minute without wanting to punch a hole in the wall and scream.
“The greatest loves are the messiest ones. And you and PJ? Mess doesn’t even scratch the surface.”
I coughed out a laugh but still wouldn’t look up.
Mom cupped my chin and lifted my head until I met her gaze. “If you love her, love her out in the open. Face the chief, and deal with whatever the aftermath is. I’ll stick by you through all of it.” Her easy smile lifted the brick off my chest. One of the bricks, anyway.
I leaned over to kiss her cheek. “Thank you.” My shoulders sagged from the relief washing over me.
“You’re my son.” She cradled my cheek. “Where else would I be? Where else have I been?” We shared the same sad smile. She’d never been anywhere but with me for my entire life.
“But, don’t be careless.” She pointed her index finger at me. “Do it now, before a great love turns into a miserable heartbreak.”
28
PJ
“When doMom and Dad get back from the Poconos?” my brother asked over the phone as I curled up on top of my bed.
I reveled in my solitude but hated being in the house all by myself at night. I heard every creak, bang, and breeze. They all sounded ominous and terrifying. When I was little, Jack used to sit on the edge of my bed and explain every noise, every time. He did this well into my teenage years, and now that he wasn’t here, it was impossible to relax.
“Tomorrow night. Late, I think.” Even though it was August, I had piled on two blankets for extra protection. Which was silly as a serial killer or mass murderer could just lift the blankets to kill me, but I kept them on anyway.
“Dylan isn’t there?” His voice had an edge I didn’t care for but wouldn’t address as I buried myself under the blankets to stay alive.
“No, Jack. He’s working tonight.”
