Page 96 of The Write Stuff

“We had bets on when you guys were going to get together.”

“You did not. I was a total jerk to Wylie.”

“Yes, but we knew why you were a total jerk.”

I had no idea what I was supposed to say. “Um …” I stared at my hands on top of the table. I was still staring at them even after the server delivered our drinks.

“Did you really think we didn’t notice that you had feelings for her?” Mick finally asked.

“I didn’t know that I had feelings for her until recently,” I replied. “I didn’t see it. I just thought she irritated me.”

“I’m sure she did irritate you.” Mick grinned. “The best ones always do.”

His smile irritated me. “Are you talking about Mom or Aggie?”

He sighed. “Okay, we’ll talk about Wylie after we get through this.” He seemed resigned. “All I ask is that you listen to me, everything I have to say. Then if you want to throw your breakfast at me, or even throw a punch, I’ll take it. You’ve earned the right to stand up for your mother.”

We both knew I was likely to do neither of those things. I had a sharp tongue, but my mother had taught me at an early age that it was never a good idea to cause a scene. As for throwing a punch, it was just something I didn’t do. “Fine.” I nodded. “Say what you have to say.”

That seemed to be enough acquiescence for him because he immediately started speaking. “Two years before I married your mother, I was in love with Aggie,” he announced.

My mouth fell open. “W-what?”

He nodded. “We met when I was working as an organizer for one of the conferences. It was in New York City. She was one of the speakers for the event, and we got to talking, and I fell head over heels for her.”

“But … I never knew you dated Aggie.” I searched my memory hard and came up with nothing. “How could I not know that?”

“Because your mother didn’t want you to know, and Aggie didn’t want Wylie to know.”

“But … I don’t understand.” I just couldn’t wrap my head around it.

“I’m trying to explain.” He sipped his coffee, then continued. “At the time, Aggie was on her own. Lucy was a baby, and Wylie was about 10 or so. I knew even then she was going to be a firecracker.” He smiled when looking back. “She had the most amazing imagination. She would tell me these stories about being abducted by aliens, and they were ridiculous, but she was so sincere I almost believed them.”

A smile crossed my lips, unbidden. “I bet she was adorable. That was before I knew her.”

“Actually, that was right around the time you were meeting her,” he clarified, his smile disappearing. “I know that it’s hard to imagine love at first sight being possible, but that’s how I felt about Aggie.”

I thought back to the first time I’d seen Wylie again, at the dinner that had ended poorly. I’d been rude and obnoxious, and only now did I realize why I’d done it. Because I was falling for her in a single glance, too.

I rubbed my forehead. “I get it.”

He smirked but didn’t give me a hard time about it. “I don’t know if you’re familiar with the situation with Lucy’s father,” he started.

I racked my memory. “All I know is that Lucy and Wylie have different fathers. Wylie’s father took off and didn’t pay child support. I think Lucy’s father did pay child support if I’m remembering correctly.”

“That’s the gist of it,” he confirmed. “Michael — that was Lucy’s father — left right around the time Lucy was born. He wasn’t there for her birth. He left right before, so Aggie was feeling vulnerable when we met. She was full of hormones and didn’t think she could trust her feelings.”

I could see where this was going. At least I thought I could. “You fell in love with her, but she didn’t love you back.”

“She did love me back, but she didn’t want to love me, if that makes sense.”

I nodded. “Okay, that still doesn’t explain how you ended up with my mother.” Or how he’d left my mother for Aggie.

“I was determined to make Aggie believe me when I said I loved her,” he continued. “I was going to be patient and give her whatever she needed. We dated for months, and it was going well … and then Michael came back.”

My heart sank. “I don’t remember that.”

“You were a child. Your mother and Aggie were just getting their writing partnership off the ground. It’s not as if your mother would have told you about it.”