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Claudia’s back was to me, but I could clearly see Patrick’s, my birth father’s, face for the first time in years. He hadn’t changed much at all, just a few more lines around his eyes and silver at his temples, contrasting the full head of black hair, the same color as mine. Where he was a little lighter-skinned, Claudia was more tanned, and I hated that I was such an obvious mix of them both. Seeing them together was a glimpse at what I’d look like in the future.
It was also a fucking jolt to my system.
From here, I could hear the thick Irish brogue as Patrick spoke, could hear Claudia’s grating laugh, and I wondered—if I were to walk by, would they even notice me?
Probably not. They were too caught up in each other and their own bubble to give a shit about anyone else. I tensed,waiting for the rage that always raced through my veins when I saw them. The feeling of inadequacy and defeat that would settle in the pit of my stomach. The curses that would fly off the tip of my tongue without a second thought.
But it didn’t happen.
The longer I stood there, the more I stared at the two people who should care about me most in the world, the more they looked like complete strangers.
They weren’t my family. They didn’t know me, didn’t care to, and I didn’t give a shit to know them either. Why would I, when they’d only let me down my entire life? Why would I care about people like that? Why bother getting upset about it? Especially when I had someone in my life who actually saw me, with all my hang-ups and flaws, and still made every effort to show me he cared.
Thinking of the way Gavin had stubbornly kept pursuing me, even when I pushed him away constantly, had my chest tightening. He cared about me when he didn’t have to. He could’ve said “fuck it” at any point, that I wasn’t worth it, and I wouldn’t have blamed him for it.
Instead, he’d told me Iwasworth it. Even if I wasn’t sure I believed him yet, and that…meant everything.
The two sitting a few feet away from me? They meant nothing. Less than nothing. And that was all the attention I’d give them from now on.
I started back down the sidewalk, passing them as I headed to meet Gavin and not giving them a second look. And just like I thought, they didn’t pay me any attention either. No calling out my name, no double takes out of the corner of my eye.
And that was fine. That was just the way I wanted it from now on.
I rounded the corner, and just like that, they were gone from my mind. In their place was the gorgeous man I was about tomeet up with—and as if I’d willed him to appear, Gavin stepped out from under the Rubirosa sign and waved in my direction.
A feeling of peace settled over me in a way I’d never experienced.
Peace and…happiness.
“I beat you.” Gavin met up with me, wrapping an arm around my waist. The easy familiarity between us only added to my unusually good mood. “I thought you were just around the corner.”
“I was—just got held up for a sec.”
Gavin cocked his head. “Oh? Everything okay?”
“Yep.” The spiral that usually happened whenever I saw Claudia and Patrick was nowhere in sight. “I’ll tell you about it inside. Come on.”
I took Gavin’s hand and led him inside the casual pizzeria, the two of us opting for something cozier than one of the fancier places downtown. Plus, Rubirosa served a killer slice, and I was ready to eat several.
We slid into one of the booths in the far back corner, and instead of taking the opposite side, I slid in beside Gavin.
“Ooh.” He smiled as my leg brushed up against his. “Please, come closer.”
“Don’t mind if I do.” I threw my arm across the back of the booth and lowered my head to nuzzle at the sweet spot behind his ear.
Gavin chuckled, his hand finding my leg under the table as he leaned into my touch. “What’s gotten into you? Not that I’m complaining.”
“Nothin’. I just missed you today, that’s all.”
“Aw, me too. Stupid essay.” Gavin sighed and turned to brush a kiss across my lips. “But I appreciate your giving me the afternoon. There’s no way I could’ve gotten it done with you there.”
“I get it. You distract the hell out of me too.” I reached for his hand, pulling it a little further up my leg. “See?”
“Oh, I definitely see,andfeel…” Gavin squeezed, and I growled against his neck. “But so will the rest of the customers if you don’t quit.”
“That would be a problem?”
“Only if you want to see my jealous side.”
