“Yes,” I said, waving excitedly at Kaylee as she climbed to the top of the playground structure. Kaylee’s school was closed for the day and Mom was watching her, so I’d decided to spend my lunch break with them at the park and explain the reality of my dating situation to my mom.I should have stayed at the office and fucked Jace instead.
“When I told you Jace and I were dating, that was a lie,” I repeated.
“Because you were feeling embarrassed about your love life?” Mom asked, turning to face me on the park bench.
“Yes, and because I was in love with him and part of me thought if I was bold enough to lie to you, then I’d be brave enough to tell him what I really wanted too.”
“Okay, so you werenotdating at the bridal shower?” she asked.
“Correct,” I said, sipping a cup of coffee. “The game you made us play caused us to confess our feelings that night.”
She smiled proudly. “Good, because it was very obvious that he was in love with you. But tell me again how Kaylee’s dad fits into this?”
“He and Jace were already dating—for real—and Jace was falling in love with him even though he also loved me. Kayden and I still felt something from the night we met, so we went on a date, and then we decided to all date each other. The three of us.”
Mom still looked confused. Despite this being the second time we’d walked through it. “You’re all in a relationship together?”
I nodded.
“And you and Jace are in love?”
I nodded.
“And Jace and Kayden are in love?”
I nodded.
“And you and Kayden are in love?”
I froze and pressed my lips together before nodding slowly.
I was pretty sure Kayden felt the same way I did. We hadn’t discussed it yet, but I was ninety-nine percent sure I wasn’t lying to my mother this time.
I was a hundred percent sure that I was in love with him.
“The three of you are going to be together and are going to raise Kaylee together?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Don’t you think that will be hard on her?” Mom asked, gently putting a hand on my knee. “I’ll support you, Livvy, I just want you to understand what you’re tackling here.”
“I know,” I said. “The world isn’t used to relationships like this. But that doesn’t make it any less valid. I’ll do everything I can to protectKaylee from people’s prejudice, but I can’t give up my own happiness because strangers won’t approve of us.”
“Okay. All I want is for you to be happy.” My mom pulled me into a hug. “I’m so proud of how strong you are. How strong you’ve always been. I can’t wait to meet Kayden.”
“Good, because I was hoping you’d let me have two plus-ones for the wedding?” I said with a sheepish grin.
“Of course, honey,” Mom said, letting me go as Kaylee ran over to me.
“We have to ask Jace about his tie,” Kaylee said, grabbing onto my knee.
I furrowed my brow at her.
“For the father-daughter dance!” she said, looking frustrated.
“Right, of course, matching tie,” I said. “We can ask him tonight at the game.”
She smiled and ran back toward the swings.
