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"Rash? I never did anything without first considering how you would feel about it."
"You're dating a nudist."
"Ollie is the sweetest, kindest, most honorable man I've ever met. If you'd taken the time to get to know him, like Dad has, maybe you'd realize how amazing Ollie is." I grabbed my napkin and wrung it with both hands. "I've never been good enough for you, so why should I keep trying? Might as well strip naked right here in this restaurant. Maybe if I get arrested, you'll realize how much I've hated my life, until I came here."
Tears streamed down my cheeks. My eyes burned, and my gut twisted into knots. I had never spoken to my mother this way. Never. But the words had come pouring out, and I couldn't take them back. Did I want to?
Ollie returned from the bathroom.
He stopped at his chair, laying one hand on it while his gaze flicked back and forth between me and my mom.
"The ladies had a little argument," Dad said. "Why don't you take Mara out on the balcony for some fresh air?"
"Sure," Ollie said.
I got up, and he clasped my hand, leading me across the dance floor and out onto the empty balcony.
Then he pulled me into his arms.
With my head on his chest, pressed against his warm body, I felt all the anxiety sluice out of me.
"You don't have to tell me what happened," he said. "But I'm here to listen if you need it."
I sucked in a deep breath, exhaled it in a rush, and told him everything.
There was something about this man that made me feel free and whole and like the best version of myself.
But could we work out in the long run?
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ollie
We hung out on the balcony for a while, with Mara cuddled up to me and the music from inside drifting out here to us. The balcony overlooked the river that wound through town, but we couldn't see it in the dark, except for the pale glow of the moon shimmering on its surface, like a ghost hovering below us.
Mara's argument with her mom had really upset her. I couldn't imagine arguing with either of my parents that way. I'd never needed to, because my parents trusted me to make my own decisions and my own mistakes. Mara's dad seemed like a cool guy, but it was obvious he'd let his wife run the show for a long time. Now Mara wanted to take control, and Sheryl couldn't deal with it.
I actually kind of liked Sheryl. Maybe that was weird, considering she wanted Mara to get back together with Nico, but Sheryl Kanda Severins seemed like a smart lady who loved her daughter---but who went overboard trying to protect her from the world.
Mara lifted her head off my shoulder. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"Being so sweet and understanding. It's been a crazy week, and that's all my fault."
I cradled her cheek in one hand. "None of it's your fault. Your mom and your ex-husband threw you for a loop, and I think you're doing amazingly well under the circumstances."
"See? I was right. You are sweet and understanding."
"Just don't call me your gay best friend. Not sure I can handle that right now."
"I will never call you that." She kissed me, her lips lingering on mine as softly as a feather teasing my skin. "I've had sex with you. Lots. So trust me, I know exactly how straight you are."
"Glad to hear it." I linked my arms around her waist, tugging her closer to me. "Want to make out for a few minutes before we go back inside?"
She smiled, the expression brightening her from the inside out. "Yes, please."
For several minutes, we kissed. And kissed. And kissed. Her lips were soft and warm and tasted like steak sauce. Maybe that should've been gross, but the savory flavor of it just made me want her even more. Since we were in a restaurant, I couldn't do what I really wanted to do. I settled for making love to her mouth since I couldn't make love to her the right way.
