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“No,” Chase says, his tone dejected. “It’s my weekend with mom. I have to stay with her, and she won’t want to see dad.”

A jabbing pain stabs at my heart as memories of my own childhood come rushing back. My parents yelling at each other. My dad throwing insults, my mom throwing whatever object she had on hand. Me and my brothers hiding in our rooms at night or escaping out of the house during the day.

But no matter how much Amelia and Ethan hate each other, they’re not my parents.

“Have you tried asking your mom?”

Chase shakes his head. “I don’t want to see that look on her face.”

I know the look. She wears it every time she talks about Chase being away from her. I don’t blame her. It’s hard for her to be separated from her son.

I ruffle Chase’s hair. He’s a good son.

“How about I ask her for you?”

“Really?” The raw hope in his eyes pulls at my protective side.

“Yeah. You know, now that your mom and I are dating, I could be your buffer.”

He frowns like he’s not liking the part about his mom and I dating and not understanding the buffer part.

“Since I’m very close to both of your parents, I can help to pass messages between you.”

“My dad’s mad at you.”

“Yeah, but he’ll get over it. We’ve been through a lot together, your dad and me. I’ll talk to him about the bumper cars, yeah? I don’t promise anything, but there’s no harm in asking.”

Chase nods.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Amelia

I tell Madison the story of how Blake and I started dating while we watch Chase and Blake going from ride to ride. I’m interrupted often by Chase yelling for me to watch. I watch and wave and take his picture and get back to telling my story.

“So, what do you think?” I ask when I finish.

“I think… Luke overreacted. When he told me the story, he made it sound like you were emotionally wrecked and Blake took advantage of your weak state.”

I mean, I guess I was a little bit emotionally sensitive. But Blake didn’t force me into anything.

“He told me he loves me.”

“Um… so he’s serious about this. And you? Are you serious or is he your rebound?”

“I’m serious.”

Madison just frowns.

“What?”

“I just wish that after your divorce you’d taken some time off from relationships. I wish you’d spent some time on your own to figure out what you really want. To learn to love your life and yourself.”

“But I already know what I want. And I do love my life, and myself.”

She makes a sound with her nose showing she doesn’t quite believe me.

“I do. I don’t love living in the studio apartment, but that’s temporary. It’s going to take me some time to adjust to my post-divorce life. That’s normal.”