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It was just how it was.
“You got lucky. Your parents are together and apparently like each other and you.” I shook my head. “It’s almost cute.” I might have resented it a little in the beginning, but I actually liked his parents, too. They meant well. Even his dad.
Wasn’t that the damnedest thing? His dad’s interference created a fuck up of epic proportions, but the manmeantwell.
“Thanks,” he said, making a face. “I never thought of myself as naïve before.”
“You’re not naïve,” I corrected. “You’re optimistic. In a different way from Coop. I see all the bad shit that could happen. I have to. Helps me anticipate how to fix it if it goes wrong. You see all the positives.”
“Then why was I the one obsessed with whether this could possibly work if she had to choose eventually?”
“I said you were optimistic, not smart.”
There was a beat of silence, but he chuckled. “Ass.”
“Yep.” I sighed. “Look, Bubba, seriously man, don’t overthink it. Some people just shouldn’t be parents. I look at Edward, and I wonder what the fuck happened to him. My grandparents were awesome. Nana, Grandpa—they were the best. But the distance between Edward and Grandpa? It’s epic. Kind of like the distance between me and Edward. So, who knows? I don’t worry about it. I can’t fix the relationship, and I don’t want to. You feel bad because you think I’m missing out…”
I pulled into the apartments and headed down the hill to park. I’d always thought of this place as being a little on the lower end side. It was definitely shabby, but the upkeep was neat and the neighbors fairly reputable and kind.
It was also home to two of my favorite people.
The rain was a steady downpour. After I parked, I glanced over at him. “Don’t feel bad. You can’t miss what you never had.”
“Tell that to Frankie,” he countered.
“Frankie misses what she thought she had. What she convinced herself she had.” I’d seen that today. “She’s hurting for a lot more than the crap her mother is pulling. But we’re not letting her go through it alone.”
“No,” he said slowly. “We’re not.”
“The roses were a nice touch. You got something for her today?” I had another set of charms, but I’d put them away. Her bracelet was still in fucking evidence, and while I’d been half-tempted to just order her another one, I’d wait. I’d already asked Wittaker to try and get it back.
“Don’t laugh?” Bubba asked, and I nodded once.
I could do that. “Hit me.”
He tapped his pocket. “I recorded a song for her last night after I went home.”
“Nice man,” I patted his shoulder. “Really nice. You got those?” I reached behind us to snag my backpack. His must have ended up in Jake’s SUV.
“Yep.” Before I could open the door, he said, “Arch?”
I waited.
“If they push back? On Frankie’s emancipation? And if your dad cuts you off? What then?” He winced. “You’re paying for stuff, but if he takes it away…”
Not an unfair question. Really. Except… “I’m not worried about it.” One, I’d made sure to cover all of Wittaker’s retainer. While he was also one of Edward’s attorneys, he had committed to the case. The fee wouldn’t be the issue. Second, Frankie’s rent was also covered. “Even if he cuts me off, which he won’t. But if he did, Muriel would open the floodgates just to get even with him. But let’s say she didn’t notice, entirely possible. I turn eighteen in nine days.”
Bubba frowned. “Your trust?”
I nodded. “I don’t get the bulk of it until I’m twenty-five, but trust me, what I get at eighteen and twenty-one? We’ll be fine.”
Nana had seen to that and so had Grandpa.
“Edward’s going to do what he does. So is Muriel. I know the potential fallout. I can handle it.” Plan for the worst. A motto to live by. “Now, let’s get inside and see our girl.”
I snagged her pain meds out of the cup holder before we got out of the car. We were both wet when we reached the back door. Jake had to have been watching for us, or maybe Bubba texted him when I wasn’t looking. He opened the door when we got there.
I actually shuddered before we got inside though, because the rain had definitely turned cold. The interior of the kitchen was warm though.
