Page 123 of Don't Say You're Sorry

She waves me off. “Don’t worry about that. You had every right to be angry.”

The waitress comes with our tea, and Veronica pours it for us, asking her to give us a few more minutes before we order.

“Not that it should matter what I think, but I’m okay with you being together,” she assures us, her smile returning. “I won’t get in your way. Neither will your father.”

I sit up straighter. That’s the first time she’s mentioned him in almost a week.

I jump at the opportunity to pry. “Have you spoken to him?”

“Yes.”

“Are you going home soon?”

She doesn’t answer that.

I lean my elbows on the table. “Mum, he?—”

“Adam, if I need you to meddle in my marriage, I’ll let you know.” She winks at me, signaling for the waitress to come back.

She and Easton order French toast. I order pancakes.

My mum and Easton talk about his motorcycle and the ride over while we eat. I mostly stay quiet, happy just to listen. I love their relationship. I love my mum for always treating him like her own—and Easton for letting her in so easily.

Most eight-year-old boys would’ve struggled with a new family suddenly barging into their lives, especially after it had just been him and his dad for so long. But not Easton. He was my mum and Michael’s biggest supporter when they started dating, and I know he’s still rooting for them now—just like I am.

I said the five words and tore their marriage apart, just as I feared I would, but maybe now we can start to put the pieces back together as a family. Maybe there’s hope for me and Axel too. Maybe someday I’ll be able to look at his face without wanting to throw something at it.Maybe.

After we finish eating, my mum makes up an excuse to leave. It’s only now that I remember she did the same thing on Easton’s eighteenth birthday. She’s giving us time to be alone.

All the little things she does—things she’s been doing foryears—are all so obvious to me now. I feel like an idiot for not suspecting she knew about us sooner.

“I get it now,” I say after she’s gone. “She’s good. Subtle.”

“To you, maybe.” Easton laughs.

I huff. “You’re better at reading people than I am.”

“It’s my hidden talent.” He shrugs, turning his head toward me and kissing my lips. “Are you still working tonight?”

“Yeah.” I sigh. “It’s impossible to get a Saturday off. You don’t have to come though. Stay at home with the others if you want to.” I brush his nose with mine. “Say it’s okay and I’ll wake you up with my mouth when I get home.”

A little smirk touches his lips. “You have my consent to do that whenever you want, but no. I’m not letting you go to work alone.”

I didn’t think so.

Later that night, Easton and I walk toward the back door of The Hideaway hand in hand. He said he wanted to drink tonight, and he didn’t want to leave his motorcycle in the car park, so we took an Uber. As usual, my upper body is covered in new marks on top of old ones beneath my clothes. I won’t be dancing on thepodium tonight, but I couldn’t tell him that, so I shut my mouth and let him do his thing.

Not including the nights he has a game to play, he’s been tagging along for every one of my shifts, keeping me company at the bar before it gets too busy, and then watching me from afar. It’s not that I don’t love having him there, but he has his own life, and I want him to live it. I want him to feel sure enough about us that he can let me out of his sight for more than a few hours. I want him to trust me enough to know I’ll come home to him.

Before we get to the employee entrance, he turns me to face him, clutching the back of my neck. “Do something for me tonight.”

I search his eyes. “Name it.”

“I’m gonna kiss you in front of all my friends. I want you to let me.”

I narrow my eyes into thin slits.Motherfucker. “I was planning on it.”

He grins.