Red tinged his father’s cheeks. This had to be the most off balance he’d ever seen the guy. “You walk out that door and you lose everything. You won’t be a son of mine.”
His mother gasped. “Grant.”
Joel shook his head. “No. I walk out that door and Igaineverything.”
Without an ounce of hesitation, he took Polly’s hand and led her toward the door.
“Wait.” His mother rushed forward and shifted in front of him. “You’re not thinking with your head, Joel.”
“I’m thinking with my heart. You might want to try it, Mom.”
She gasped, and he stepped around her and out of the room.
The second the door closed behind him, he felt it. The peace. The calm that came from knowing that this might just be his last interaction with his parents.
Polly snucka peek at Joel behind the wheel. He was so…hard. His jaw. His fingers around the wheel. Even the muscles in his forearms seemed to vibrate.
Her heart bled for him. For the boy who’d grown up in a house with those people. She wasn’t even going to call them parents, because she was certain they hadn’t done a day of parenting in their lives.
She touched his thigh. His muscles twitched beneath her palm. She didn’t ask if he was okay. He wasn’t.
She always complained about her own mother and her inability to live without a man. But Polly had never doubted her mother’s love for her. And her mother had always wanted the best for her daughter.
Joel’s parents, though…they didn’t care about Joel or his happiness or what he wanted. They just expected things from him. Things that would benefitthemand nothim.
How a man as caring and protective and amazing as Joel had come from those two people, she had no idea.
They pulled into his driveway, and by the time she climbed out of the truck he was already at her side, but his eyes weren’t on her. They were on the street, searching.
She followed his gaze but saw no one.
Inside, he kicked off his shoes and went straight to the kitchen.
She watched as he reheated the bolognese and put water in the pot for the pasta. It was like he was moving on autopilot. Needing to keep busy so he didn’t think about what had just happened.
His jaw kept doing that clicky thing, and his brows looked to be in a permanent frown.
Without hesitation, she crossed the small distance between them, wrapped her arms around his middle, and touched her cheek to his back. Then she whispered, “I’m sorry.”
He froze. His body went so still, she wasn’t even sure he was breathing.
“I’m sorry that they’re shit parents,” she continued. “You deserved to be loved.Reallyloved. You deserved parents who celebrated your achievements. Who showed up. Who put your happiness first.”
He remained stiff for another couple seconds. Then slowly, he turned and his arms wrapped around her. A kiss was pressed to the top of her head before he sat his chin on her hair and just held her. It felt like one of those hugs where he needed something from her. Maybe her love. Maybe her familiarity. Whatever it was, it was his.
When she finally lifted her head, she took his cheek in her palm. “You know what I’m most impressed with?”
“What?”
“That you became who you aredespitethem. How amazing is that?”
His lips twitched. “I just got better when you came along. Thank you for coming with me today.”
“I almost thought…”
“That he was going to hit me?” Joel finished.
“Yeah.”
