Page 82 of Wild Mistake
“Oh, no.” Sarah rests a hand on his arm. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Do I want to talk about how I thought I was on a date, but apparently I was the only one because some guy she’s actually dating showed up? No, Mom. I think I’m good.”
“Gabe.”
“I’m so fucking stupid!” He slams his palm on the counter.
The conversations around us quiet and I have no doubt everyone in this room is staring.
“Gabe.” Sarah lowers her voice. “You need to calm down. This is my job, and I’m sorry tonight didn’t turn out the way you wanted but you need to respect my workplace.”
“Right? Your precious job.” He rolls his eyes. “You care about everything more than us. This stupid diner. This stupid town. Your stupid ex-boyfriend.” He glares at me, then turns his venom back on her. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out?”
“Gabe,” Sarah warns, taking a step closer to him. “Take a breath.”
“No! You fucking moved us here because of him, didn’t you?”
“Gabriel,” she scolds.
“And you two were engaged? Seriously, Mom? Did you think we wouldn’t find out? Were you ever going to tell us, or did the two of you have a little chuckle about it?” He shakes his head in disgust. “Parker and I are your children! We deserved to know who our mom almost married, especially when you started dating him again. You made me look like a fucking fool tonight and it’s all your fault.”
Sarah never told her boys about us? Fuck. That hurts.
Her eyes dart around the room, but purposefully avoid mine. “Let’s go outside and talk.”
“No! I hate this fucking place!” His shouts cut through the diner and ricochet off the walls. “I hate this fucking town and I hate you for making us come live here!”
Sarah stands still, as if stunned by his outburst.
I, on the other hand, have had enough. “Hey, don’t speak to your mother like that.” I walk around the counter. “Why don’t we go take a walk outside and cool off.”
“No!” he screams before I get too close. “You’re not my fucking father!”
“Gabe!” Sarah shouts.
“You know what? Fuck this.” He swipes the keys from the counter and turns, marching away.
“Don’t you dare walk away from me.” Sarah calls after his retreating form.
“Fuck you!” he shouts, shoving the door open and storming out into the night.
30
SARAH
“Gabe!”
“Let him go.” Aiden reaches for my arm and holds me back. “Let him cool off first.”
I want to chase after him. I want to apologize for not telling him about my past with Aiden. I want to beg him to tell me exactly what happened tonight so I can comfort him. But we don’t have that kind of relationship. We haven’t for a long time. That hurts even more.
My body sags under the weight of it all. Gabe’s words play back in my mind.I hate you. I feel like the worst parent in the world.
“You never told them about us?”
Defensiveness prickles my spine as I meet Aiden’s stare. “I was going to. Eventually. It never came up.”
“Sarah, you know how it is here.” Aiden frowns. “People talk.”
