“Been there, done that,” Mike chuckles. “So, you’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for someone to listen and not judge.”
Actually, that might be the exact reason I turned to him tonight. Not my brothers, not Ricky.
“I got some bad news about my shoulder yesterday. I went to a really dark place, and… Blue and I got into it.”
Mike nods. “That’s understandable. You’re both under a lot of stress these days.”
“Yeah, but I took things too far.”
He relaxes deeper into the couch as he nods. “Okay…”
I lean forward, wincing when I tweak my shoulder with the awkward movement. “The team won yesterday’s game, so I wentout with them to celebrate, and… I guess you could say I had one too many drinks.”
There’s an uneasy moment between us as I run those words back through my head, making sure I didn’t say something offensive, given his history.
“I see,” he says quietly. “I’m sure that didn’t go over too well with my daughter. Considering.”
There’s no missing the shame in his voice, and again, I regret coming here. He was probably just trying to relax and enjoy his evening, now here I am throwing his past in his face.
I’m such an idiot.
“You know what? This was a mistake. You probably don’t want to hear any of this.”
I’m already on my feet halfway through the apology, but Mike stands, too.
“West, sit. Please.”
We lock eyes, and he doesn’t seem upset. I weigh my options, ultimately deciding to lower back down to the couch as Mike does the same.
“I know what you’re thinking, and you didn’t upset me,” he says. “I’m not that delicate.”
A faint smile crosses his face, and I feel a little better.
A little.
“Listen, my past is my past. I own it. I hurt my kids in a lot of ways—ways I’m sure I haven’t evenconsidered,” he adds. “But since I can’toutrunwho I used to be, seems the smartest thing todo is learn to forgive myself. It’s the only way to stay sane. Now, does that mean there are never moments of guilt? No. Because I love my kids and wish I could’ve been better for them when it counted. But I’ve made my peace with it, which is a longwinded way of saying you don’t have to mince words with me on the subject.”
I hold his gaze for a moment, then nod. “Thank you.”
He nods back, and I gather my thoughts again.
“The short version is that I came home drunk, made things worse, and she left.”
“Left?”
Frustrated, I take a breath. “Yeah. She’s staying at Hunter’s.”
Relief washes over Mike’s face, hearing that Blue’s someplace safe.
“I went to see her tonight, hoping we could talk things out, but she didn’t budge.”
“Poor girl inherited my stubborn streak. Sorry about that,” Mike snorts.
I smile a little. “Yeah. Thanks.”
“Before I start, I’d just like to say that I know I’m probably the last guy who should be giving marital advice. However, I like to think that being a former fuck-up by trade makes me uniquely qualified here. Plus, you showed up on my doorstep tonight, which means you’re just desperate enough to trust me.”
He laughs, and I let one slip out, too.
