Page 108 of Beg Me

“Mom has dated a few guys since my first dad died. And she’s never found another guy who made our house feel like it did when he was here.” He scoots closer. “But your house feels like that with Markie there, Dad. And she makes you happy. And, for some reason, you make her happy. It’s probably because you have me and I’m so charming, but it works in your favor.”

I chuckle, lifting my gaze to his. How is he so wise and amusing at three in the morning?

“You gotta go back,” he says, imploring me. “I know the drive sucks, but you can’t let her down. Remember all that stuff you said about promises you make to the people you love?”

I sigh. “Yeah, I remember. But we were talking about when you get married.”

“Does that make you love someone more?”

Touché.

The door opens again. This time, it’s Deidre. She smiles at me, then at Gus, and wraps her cardigan tightly around her chest as she approaches us.

I stand, pulling her into a quick hug. “Deidre, I’m so sorry.”

She tries to speak, but all that comes out is a choked sob.

“How is Papa?” Gus asks her.

She forces a swallow as she pulls away. “He’s resting, baby. I had to come out to go to the restroom, so I thought I’d check on you.” She ruffles his hair. “Are you hungry or anything?”

He shakes his head.

“Aunt Wendy’s going back to her house in a few minutes to try to get some sleep before your cousins wake up in a few hours,” she says. “If you want to go there and rest, she’d love to take you.” She looks up at me. “There’s a room there for you, too. Or you can go to Dad’s and stay there. I can give you a key.”

“That’s nice of you, Deidre, thanks. But I’ll just hit up a hotel.”

Gus turns to face me. “No, Dad. Go home.”

Deidre flinches. “Gus. Don’t talk to him that way.”

“What are you going to do here, Dad?” Gus asks, ignoring his mother.

“I’m going to be here for you.”

“I’m bad at math,” he says. “But let’s balance this equation.”

Chuckling, I hold out my hands. “How do you know how to balance an equation?”

“Markie. Don’t change the subject.” He lifts a brow. “I’m here but I have Mom, and Aunt Wendy, and a million other people that I don’t know. I’ll be fine. But on the other end of this equation is Markie, and she’s all alone.” He leans forward. “Balance the equation, Dad.”

Deidre flinches. “I feel like I’ve missed a lot.”

“Tell him to go home,” Gus tells her. “Kick him out of here. He has responsibilities to his girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend?” Deidre grins. “I didn’t know you had a girlfriend.”

“Yeah, well …”

“Her name is Markie,” Gus says. “And she’d make an excellent stepmom, which is why I hooked them up in the first place.”

Deidre lifts a brow. “Well, okay then.” Her eyes hold a glimmer of the sparkle I remember from college. “Looks like you need to go back to Sugar Creek.”

I stare at her because I don’t know what to do and I don’t want to make the wrong fucking decision. Again.

“I’ll make this easy for you. Do you love her?” Deidre asks, her gaze searching mine.

My heart swells as I think of Markie and how much I wish she was here. I wish I told her at Lolly’s that I want her to go to Nevada with me. That I want to figure out a way to make things work because she’s … it. She’s my girl. She’s my more.