Page 14 of An Unexpected Turn
“Hold on for a minute.”
I stood, holding the phone to my chest.
“I need to speak to your mother. Why don’t you sit with Pey—Ms. Miller for a minute until I get back?”
I cut a quick look to Peyton as I slid out of the booth. She responded with a tiny nod before I jogged out into the parking lot.
“You should know I’d never do that. Petty games were your thing, not mine.”
“Right. You’ve wanted to take him away from me for years.”
“Are you kidding me? I wanted more time with him, yes, but I’d never take him away from you, and you know that. He just needs time to adjust.”
Memories of years of this ran through my brain and exhausted me. As much as I’d tried to appease her for our son’s sake, it was never good enough.
“Why? Because I decided to live my life for me for once? I put in fourteen years, and I won’t feel bad for wanting something for myself.”
I pressed my palm to my forehead, trying like hell to calm the fuck down, but after the decadeI’dput in after we divorced, I’d finally had enough.
“Youput infourteen years? Like raising our son was some kind of prison sentence. I would have split custody with you rather than just have him for the weekends, and you know that. Hell, I would have taken him to live with me a long time ago, but I never wanted to make him feel like he was caught in the middle. You want to live your life for yourself now, that’s fucking great. But Mike has every right to feel however he feels about it. He’ll text back when he wants to. Have a good night.”
I stabbed the phone screen, groaning as I let my head fall back. When I shifted to go back inside, I found my son standing behind me. Peyton leaned against the back entrance, wincing when our eyes met.
I exhaled a long breath as I approached my son, rubbing the back of my neck as if that would force the right words out. Once I spied the sad look in his eyes, I had no doubt he’d heard every word I said.
“Listen, Mike—”
“It’s fine, Dad. You looked angry from the window, and I wanted to make sure you were okay. Whatever Mom said ...” He kicked at a couple of rocks at his feet. “It’s fine.”
He didn’t seem angry—that I could have handled. When he turned to trudge back inside, I wished for the days when an ice cream cone or a piece of candy was the solution to all his problems. I had no idea how to fix any of this for him, and it ate away at me.
“I overheard my mother having a conversation with my father once. I was much younger than Mike, though.” Peyton stepped in front of me. “He had canceled again for a weekend, and I heard her say, ‘Well, if she isn’t your priority, she’s mine. Call back when you grow up.’” She snickered, her eyes darting from the pavement back to me. “That was the last contact we had with him, so we assumed he never did.”
“I’m sorry, Peyton.”
“Eh, it wasn’t a loss in the long run. I was loved and spoiled by everyone else, and while it wasn’t great hearing that I wasn’t my father’s priority, I always remembered my mother saying I was hers. Mike will remember you saying that you always wanted him. And whatever is going on with his mother, that’s what he needs.” She wrapped her hand around my bicep and squeezed. “You’re a great father. He’s lucky to have you. Stop beating yourself up, thinking he’s not.”
I reached up and covered her hand, not caring how I shouldn’t be touching her or how this would look if anyone saw us.
“Thank you. I needed that professional opinion.”
She grinned, and even in the dim lights of the parking lot, it was impossible to miss how gorgeous she was.
“Anytime. Plus, you called him Mike.” She poked my chest. “I bet that’s extra points too. I can ask to see him on Monday if that would make you feel better. I’d mentioned I’d be scheduling some follow-ups with the freshman class anyway.” The side of her mouth curved up, and even while pissed off and keyed up, I zeroed in on her lips.
One problem at a time.
“I still can’t tell you what he says, but maybe I can offer some vague but helpful advice after.” Her sweet smile soothed me.
“I would appreciate that.”
Our gazes lingered that extra moment too long before she headed back to the takeout counter inside.
I did want my son. As clueless as I was about everything else, maybe that would turn out to be enough.
SEVEN
PEYTON
