“You’re right.” Clutching her wet tissue, my mother met my gaze with watery eyes. “What we did deserves more than an ‘I’m sorry.’ We need both yours and Monroe’s forgiveness. We-we were only thinking of ourselves and not you. That was wrong.”
I wasn’t the type of person who held back from affection, and hugging my parents never felt as good as it did right then. But I couldn’t take comfort in this fragile truce, not until Roe would be able to as well.
I drew him aside to speak privately while my mother used the bathroom and my father sat, checking messages on his phone.
“What do you say? Are you willing to let them into our lives?”
“I’m willing to try.”
“But you’re guarded.”
Clearly frustrated, he huffed out a sigh. “Wouldn’t you be? I know they’re doing this because they love you, and I want you to have a good relationship with your parents. I’m not about punishing them. It’s human nature for a parent and child to bond and want forgiveness. But they don’t know me, and I’m not sure they want to. Deep down they might want nothing more than for us not to work out so you can go back to the way it used to be.”
“That’ll never happen. I won’t let it. It’s taken you and me so long to get to this point, I’m not going to rush this.” I kissed his cheek. “Give them a chance to know you. Then they’ll love you too.” I kissed him again, but I could see the doubt in his eyes.
* * *
Two weeks later, I had to admit maybe Roe was right and my parents were merely paying lip service to their words. Every attempt to get the four of us together had been thwarted by their claims of visiting old friends they hadn’t seen in forever or invites to events they couldn’t turn down. Now they’d let me know they had to go home to deal with agency business.
“We love you, Ezra. Everything will work out. We’ll talk soon.”
Sitting at dinner one night with Ross and Arden, I relayed my annoyance about the situation while Roe rubbed my back in a show of support. He’d remained unflappable during the whole mess, and while I loved and appreciated his calm to my storm, secretly I wished he’d get fiery and up in my parents’ faces.
“So you see what I’m up against?” We sat across from Ross and Arden, so I could gauge their reactions. “I’m about ready to say fuck it and walk away.”
“And yet you won’t.” Ross pointed his finger at me. “Because no matter how angry or hurt you are over what they did—and let me tell you, that is some of the worst shit I’ve ever heard—you still love them. Why do you need to have everything settled in a day or a week? Give it time. I still can’t wrap my head around it.”
“Ross is right. Betrayal is a terrible thing,” Arden said. “I can tell you firsthand. My sister-in-law knew Jared was cheating on me, yet she kept it from me. It’s a hard thing to come back from with anyone, and the trust your parents broke with you is worse than anything. If I didn’t have Ross to lean on and help me deal with it, I might not be in as healthy a place as I am now.”
“Argh.” A disgusted sound escaped Ross. “Arden, I know you keep trying to understand her side and point of view, but my only concern is you. She hurt you, which means she hurt me too.” Fierce love illuminated Ross’s face as he kissed Arden’s cheek. I’d forgotten how protective Ross could be of those he loved.
Roe slid an arm around my shoulders, and I sighed. “I couldn’t have done this without Roe.”
Ross’s eyes gleamed. “And I’m thrilled you had him on your side, but I have questions.” His fingers played a tempo on the table, and I pressed my lips together.
“I’m sure you do,” I said dryly, then, in a not-so-subtle whisper to Roe, murmured in his ear, “You can plead the Fifth, you know.”
Roe shook with laughter. “That’s only if I’m guilty. I have nothing to hide.” His smile turned into a frown while his fingers toyed with the ends of my hair. “I told Ezra he needs time to heal. Pretending everything is back to normal and perfect isn’t realistic. The news shattered me, so his hurt must run miles deep. But think of it this way; when you break a vase, you need to give the glue time to set so the pieces don’t fall apart.” Ross’s eyes lit up as Roe spoke. “You’re all broken now. Give it space and time to allow it all to sink in. It’s out in the open. No more secrets, no more lies.”
Ross huffed out an impatient breath. “And what about you two? That’s what I’m really interested in.”
I snorted. “You’ve shown remarkable restraint, Ross.”
“That’s Arden’s influence. He’s made me a better man.” As he spoke, Ross gently brushed his fingers against Arden’s cheek, and at the answering smile Ross received, joy bloomed in my chest. I knew how many years Ross had lived in such darkness, I thought he was lost to me forever. Having him in my life and in love again was a miracle.
“Don’t make me cry, you idiot. Roe and I…we’re finding our way back. Twenty-three years is a long time, and we have a lot to learn about each other.”
“I’m sure the professor has years of lesson plans. Don’t be afraid to discipline him if he gets out of line. I know Ezra is a very willing student, but fail him if you need to. Make him work for those grades.” He clapped his hands, laughing.
I rolled my eyes at his snickering. “You’re proud of yourself, aren’t you? I see the corny jokes haven’t ended.”
“You have no idea.” Arden smirked.
“Oh, you love it, who are you kidding?” He patted Arden’s cheek. “Part of my charm. And I’ve been waiting for you to bring Roe around to meet us. You’re a part of my family, Ezra. I don’t have many people I trust as much as you, Arden, and Foster. You remember him, right?”
“Foster? Yeah. He always seems so sad.” The few times I’d met Ross’s best friend when he’d come to California to visit, he’d rarely smiled and preferred to stay at their house, rather than go to any party Ross might’ve gotten an invite for.
“Not anymore. He found a young stud, and I swear the man is getting younger every day.”
