Page 26 of Tempt
“Yeah. Didn’t feel that way, of course. I thought I knew everything. Anyway, I saw Andi at the bar where she worked and thought she was cute. We spent a few days having a good time, but being careless about it.”
“A few days? That’s it?” Mason questioned.
“That’s it. Her ex-boyfriend—Mick, the one she married—got wind of me and showed up at my dad’s ready to fight.” I shrugged. “So I fought him.”
“He was a jerk. I hope you kicked his ass.” Mason set his jaw, and I saw my younger self in his pugnacious expression.
“I did, but my dad and stepmother were furious and tossed me out. I was so mad I left without saying goodbye to Andi.”
“And she never tried to get in touch with you?” Lori asked.
I shook my head. “Not that I know of. I always figured she was so angry that she just deleted my number and decided,to hell with that guy.”
Mason exhaled. “That sounds like her. Mom had a hot temper too. And man, could she hold a grudge. I could see her realizing that you’d left without saying anything and swearing she’d never utter your name again.”
“But even after she found out she was pregnant?” Lori was incredulous. “That’s a heck of a grudge.”
Guilt slammed my chest like a wrecking ball. “I swear, if she’d tried to contact me, Mason, I would have responded. I can’t say I would have been thrilled, but I would not have ignored her.”
Mason picked up his beer glass and drank. After setting it down, he nodded slowly. “I believe you. If my mother never even wanted me to have your name, it must have been because she never wanted you to know.”
I wanted to apologize again, but the words were starting to sound hollow.
“At least you know now, right?” Lori said, her tone brighter. “And even though we’ll probably never know why Andrea made the choice she did, maybe it doesn’t matter. We can’t change it. But we can move forward as a family.”
Mason smiled at her, patting her hand on the table. “Yes. Exactly.”
The server arrived with salads a moment later, and I dug in as if I were starving, grateful for the distraction.
“How was your flight in yesterday, Zach?” Lori asked.
“Fine.”
“Did you have a chance to see any of the area today? Autumn is a really beautiful season around here.”
“I took a run this morning. It is a pretty area.”
“I think we’re going to get some rain tonight,” said Mason, “but hopefully it clears up quickly.”
“Rain on your wedding day is supposed to be lucky, right?” Lori smiled and shrugged. “Maybe rain during your rehearsal is lucky too.”
“You should come to the rehearsal dinner, Zach,” Mason said. “I mean, if you want to. It’s tomorrow night.”
I picked up my water again and took a few cold swallows.
“Mason and I were thinking it would be a less hectic time for you to meet my family than at the actual wedding,” Lori explained. “But we don’t want to put pressure on you.”
I cleared my throat. “I’ll give it some thought.”
* * *
Just after two o’clock, I went back to my hotel room and crashed on the bed. I wasn’t sure if it was the change in time zone, the six-mile run I’d taken that morning, the big meal, or the emotionally exhausting conversation I’d just had, but I was wiped out. I fell asleep within minutes.
When I woke up, the room was dark. I checked my phone—it was after five. There were several messages from Jackson regarding an upcoming job and one from Mason.
Thank you so much for meeting us for lunch. Lori and I had a great time. It was so good to finally meet you in person, and I feel like the pieces of my past and myself I was missing are all falling into place. We’d love for you to come to the rehearsal tomorrow. If you want to. It’s at Cloverleigh Farms, and we’re all meeting in the lobby at 4:45.
Setting my phone aside, I lay on my back and tossed an arm over my head. I knew what the right thing to do would be—go to the fucking rehearsal and play whatever role Mason asked me to. Would it make up for the past? For my immature hasty departure from Andi’s life? For his going essentially fatherless for almost thirty years? No.
