While Milo’s mom was blonde, Tucker’s dark hair was peppered with gray, and there were hints of red in his goatee. He was as tall and handsome as all three of his sons.
“We’re so glad you could make it,” Tucker said, smiling broadly at us.
Given the awkward silences of the last few days, sacrificing part of our lazy Sunday had been no hardship. Still, I smiled, thanked them for having us, and made small talk like it was my job.
Which, coincidentally, it seemed to be. Milo was quieter than usual, answering whenever he was directly addressed, but apparently content not to direct the conversation.
Eventually, both of our hosts retreated to the kitchen to check on dinner, leaving me and Milo on a loveseat in the family room. I tangled my fingers in his and lifted his hand to my lips. For some reason, that simple touch seemed to soothe him. His gaze moved over my face, reading whatever was written there—hopefully the depth of my regret for shutting him out.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
He reached up with his other hand to cup my cheek. “Me too. I’ve been awkward as hell and it was stupid. Your feelings, no matter what they might be, are totally valid, Eden.”
“You are extraordinarily well-adjusted, did you know that?”
“I try,” he replied, grinning. “I’m sorry I was tiptoeing around you this week. I thought you might need that caution while you processed, but I think I went a little overboard.”
I shifted so I could drop my head against his shoulder. “I feel like an alien sometimes.”
“Good thing you’re dating the owner of a comic book store. Half my merch is filled with aliens.” Though I laughed, he kissed my forehead and said, “Eden, you’re very much human. I know how lucky I am to have come from all this—parents who love each other and never hid how much they love us, brothers who drive me crazy but always have my back, a town that’s not Pleasantville but was pretty great to grow up in.”
“I’m glad you had that,” I said softly.
“I’m glad, too. I wish you’d had even half of it.”
“My parents don’t matter, I just…I want to know my niece is safe and happy.”
His lips brushed lightly over my hair. “Then we’ll do what we can to find those answers. I’ll help in any way I can. Addie said you’re a super sleuth.”
I grinned. “That’s true. I never had a reason to delve into my family after I left. I thought about it back when Isaiah called, I was afraid to open that door again.”
“And now?”
“That little girl is reason enough to get over my fears.”
“My brave Eden,” he murmured.
“I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel,” I admitted. “I think that’s what freaks me out the most. Like Addie expected me to start crying or something. I thought she was going to show me an obituary when she walked into the store.”
Milo stroked his thumb over my knuckles. “There’s no right or wrong here, beautiful. My mom’s dad died when we were teenagers—he was an emotionally abusive narcissist and they weren’t close. No one cried at the funeral, not even her. I once overheard her telling Dad that she felt sad about all the things that could have been, but not about losing the man he was.”
“I think…that sounds close to what I’m feeling.”
“A couple months later, when Christmas rolled around, I walked into the kitchen and found her sobbing, because every year, she held out hope that he’d get his shit together and act like a good father, a good grandfather, instead of letting everyone down again. That was when it hit her that there was no chance of that ever happening. As far as I know, those were the only tears she shed over him,” he finished quietly.
I drew a breath, still leaning into him, absorbing his warmth and his strength, and whispered, “I’ve always been afraid that I wouldn’t know how to be a good partner or a good parent, because I came from that house. Even around Addie and Rob’s parents, I wondered if I could ever find that.”
“And now?”
“If your mom grew up with that and became the person she is, maybe there’s hope for me.”
Milo drew back, smiling at me with a tenderness that beat back the weight I’d been carrying around since Addie’s revelation, then slid his hand along my jaw and kissed me until everything else fell away.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Milo
EverytimeEdengaveme a glimpse at the softness she hid inside, I fell a little more in love with her. I understood that we weren’t at a place where she could handle a conversation about the future—not even about moving in together. The last thing I wanted was to prompt another panicked response from her, especially since things returned to normal after our pre-dinner chat.
