Taran hadn’t wanted to tell the kids or Kiera and Gary about what happened. She didn’t want the fuss, she’d said. I’d abided by that.
I hadn’t expected Kiera to be excited to see Taran considering their history, but it seemed she had a reason.
My gut churned, wondering what the hell my ex-wife was saying to her.
Gary nudged me.
“Aye?”
He gave me a knowing look. “Ever since Heather mentioned you and Taran were talking again, Kiera has been itching to see her.”
“Why?” I practically barked.
Gary chuckled. “Nothing to worry about, Quinn. She just feels bad about the past and wants to say sorry and assure Taran that there’s nothing between you anymore.”
“Fuck. Things are delicate. I don’t need Kiera?—”
Gary grabbed my arm, his usual jovial expression hardening. “As much as you are in the middle, mate, Kiera has her own guilt to bear with Taran, and that’s got nothing to do with you. She has a right to apologize if she wants to.”
I relaxed ever so slightly as I processed his words. It never occurred to me that Kiera held any kind of remorse toward Taran. When it came to Taran, I suppose I could be a bit self-involved, thinking the two of us existed in a bubble.
But we didn’t.
I looked back at my two exes and Heather caught my eye instead. She’d looked up from her phone and was watching me and her stepfather carefully. She looked pointedly at her mum and Taran and then gave me a small reassuring smile as if to say,It’s all good.
Nodding, I turned away from them and Gary released me.
“It’s amazing you and Kiera lasted as long as you did,” he mused aloud. “You watch Taran like you’re afraid she’s about to disappear.”
I grunted because she almost fucking did this morning. At that, I knew I wouldn’t be able to concentrate unless I had Taran in my direct line of sight. “I need a seat.” I waved off Gary’s protestations. “I’m not interrupting them. I just need a seat.”
With that, I nudged Heather out of the way (she laughed at me) and settled next to Taran, my thigh pressing against hers. “Everything all right?” My gaze bounced between her and Kiera.
My ex-wife rolled her eyes at me and looked toward the game. “Aye, Mr. Overprotective.”
I waited for Taran’s confirmation.
She gave me a small, weary smile but nodded.
With her warmth pressed against mine, I more easily focused on Angus’s game.
“Did you see my jab tackle in the fourth quarter?” Angus’s voice was several decibels above where it should be for a public place.
“God, Angus, aye, we saw it, it was awesome, but lower your voice, bud.” Heather glanced around the restaurant. “People are staring.”
Unfazed, my son leaned across the table and whispered at me and Taran, “Did you see my jab tackle in the fourth quarter?”
Taran struggled not to laugh, which deepened my amusement and affection for my son. “I saw it. It was phenomenal.”
Angus’s eyes lit up with my praise. “And did you hear they’re trying to get the council to open an ice rink?”
“An ice rink for what?” Taran asked just as the waiter brought our drinks over.
Kiera and Gary had graciously adhered to my plans to take the kids for dinner, even though Taran was now part of that equation. I was anxious to hear what Kiera had said to Taran at the game, but I was doing my best to focus on the kids.
“A lot of the parents think we should start training to play ice hockey.”
“Do you want to play ice hockey?”
