Page 52 of Glass Jawed

Aarohi

He’s crying.

Why is he crying like this?

“I...” he swallows hard, eyes glassy. “I kissed someone else.”

My stomach drops.

No. He couldn’t do this. He would never do this. No matter the temptation. I know him. He’s lying to me.

“You’re lying,” I snap, my voice sharper than I intend.

He shakes his head, tears already falling. “I’m not.”

Panic rushes through me. I shoot up from the couch, hands shaking, feet moving before I can think. I head for the kitchen. The only thing I can do right now is cook. Or maybe bake. Something methodical. Something that keeps me from yelling.

“Please,” he follows, breath hitching. “ Please , I didn’t mean to—”

“Don’t,” I cut him off, whipping around. “Don’t say another word.”

“Mom...” he whimpers.

My shoulders fall. I don’t turn around, just press both palms to the counter to keep myself steady.

“I don’t want to hear anything right now. Your father’s going to walk through that door any minute, and I need to calm down before he sees a crime scene.”

Kai’s lower lip quivers. And I feel it—my own tears building, hot and fast.

He’s twenty. But he’s still my baby. And we raised him better than this. Better than to break someone’s heart—especially her heart. Alisha .

Kashvi and I had traded initials when we were pregnant—A for her kid, K for mine. A dumb joke between Lucian and Liam that somehow stuck.

Kai was eight months old when Alisha was born. They grew up together. We even shifted Kai’s school year to keep them in the same grade.

They were inseparable . Until things changed.

Because one day, last year, they stopped bickering. And started sneaking looks. Whispering. Disappearing.

Kashvi and I knew. We always knew. They’d definitely started dating in secret.

And now, I’m looking at my son—his face torn with guilt, looking every bit like his father did two decades ago.

The front door clicks open.

Lucian strolls in, shoes off, bag slung over one shoulder, phone in hand. He doesn’t look up.

“Rohi, baby,” he says distractedly. “Liam wants to do dinner this Saturday, so I was thinking maybe we can resched—”

Then he sees me. My tear-streaked face.

He’s beside me in two strides. “Hey. Hey, what happened?”

I don’t answer. He follows my gaze to Kai, still standing in the corner of the kitchen like he’s bracing for impact.

Lucian’s expression hardens. His voice drops. “What did you do? Why is my wife crying?”

It’s always my wife when he’s angry. Never your mother.

Kai opens his mouth. Hesitates. Then closes it again.

“He kissed someone,” I say. “I don’t know if Alisha knows yet.”

Lucian freezes. The name hits him like a blow. He’s loved Alisha like his own since she was born.

Kai tries to speak, but Lucian cuts him off—his voice cold, sharp.

“Living room. Now. I’ll be right there.”

His attention shifts to me completely, arms wrapping around my waist. I’m more angry than sad.

“Baby...” he rasps. “You want to sit with us? While I interrogate him?”

I sigh into his chest, letting myself lean into the warmth and love that’s never once wavered in all these years.

“Maybe in a few minutes. I’ll call Aadya first. Her classes might be done by now.”

I feel his lips press against my temple as he smiles.

“Tell her that her father could use a call. She only ever calls you .”

I chuckle. “Are you jealous?”

A quiet laugh rumbles in his chest.

“No,” he lies smoothly.

I pull back just enough to look up at him. “Can you... ask him why? I know the why shouldn’t matter, but...”

“It doesn’t,” he says gently. “I didn’t even know he and Alisha were really together. I mean, I suspected . But the why rarely changes anything. We know this.”

I nod, biting my lip. “Still... I just...”

“I know. I’ll ask,” he murmurs, his tone much softer now than it was two minutes ago. “Fuck. Just give me five minutes alone with him, okay?”

“Okay,” I whisper, and we slowly untangle. He kisses the tip of my nose, then my lips, and walks off toward the living room.

I want to call Alisha. Hell, I want to call Kashvi and ask what the hell is happening. They’re adults. Why would he mess this up now?

I shoot off a quick check-in with my chatterbox—Aadya, who is currently very into robotics club drama—and then make my way into the living room.

Their voices are low, but the tension crackles.

“And then? What did you do after ?” Lucian asks, steady but stern.

“I... I don’t know. I pushed her away. Told her it was a mistake. I think I was tipsy—”

“First of all,” Lucian interrupts, “you shouldn’t have been drinking at that party. Yes, you’re legal age. But you’re a lightweight . Your mother knows it. I know it. Hell, even Alisha knows it.”

Kai nods numbly. My fingers twitch with the urge to hug him, but this isn’t the moment.

“Now,” Lucian says. “Tell me what happened after Alisha saw you kiss this... this—”

“Marley,” Kai mutters unwisely.

“I don’t want to know her name,” Lucian says calmly. “Unless she’s about to become our daughter-in-law—which I highly doubt.”

Kai immediately shakes his head, wide-eyed. I finally slip into the seat next to Lucian, and Kai turns to me with pleading eyes.

“Mom...”

“Don’t talk to her,” Lucian says. “Talk to me. What did you do after you kissed this girl?”

“I... I followed Alisha back,” he says miserably. “She was... crying. I just wanted to make sure she got back to her dorm safely.”

I nearly say like father, like son but decide I don’t want to risk getting spanked for that later. (Or maybe I do— focus , Rohi.)

Lucian sighs. “Son... without blaming it on the drinking. Why did you kiss her?”

Kai slumps in the armchair, looking heartbreakingly small. “I didn’t initiate it. I swear . But I didn’t stop it fast enough either. I know that’s the same thing in the end. As for why—” He swallows. “Ally kept asking me to transfer from Simon Fraser to UBC. But it’s not that simple.”

I frown. That’s not an excuse.

“We were... we were fighting a lot ,” Kai admits. “Finals were stressing me out. I told her I needed a break. And then she showed up at the... the party.”

“Wait,” I say. “You were supposed to be studying. What were you doing at a party?”

“Mom, I was done for the day, I swear . I just— shit —I know I messed up. I don’t want to ruin your friendship with—”

“That’s not what this is about,” Lucian cuts in, sharper now. “Is that the only reason you feel guilty?”

“No,” Kai whispers, voice cracking. “I... I fu-messed up. I should’ve never asked for a break. I should’ve communicated . I should’ve handled everything differently. I love Alisha so much, and now I don’t know how to... how to fix it.”

Lucian’s face finally softens. He glances at me and gives me a sad, knowing smile.

We’re both thinking the same thing.

It’s not the same story. But our son’s about to learn the same lesson.

Lucian leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, rubbing his palms together like he’s collecting his thoughts before speaking.

“You love her,” he says, not a question.

Kai nods, fast. “I do.”

“Well, it’s not enough,” Lucian replies quietly. “Not if you don’t know how to hold it.”

Kai looks up at him, wide-eyed, like he hadn’t expected that.

“You know why your mother and I work?” Lucian asks.

“Because you’re obsessed with her?” Kai offers with a hopeful, crooked smile.

I shake my head, smiling.

Lucian snorts. “That helps. But no. It’s because I learned how to talk to her. Really talk. Even when I didn’t want to. Even when it made me feel like shit. And it was a hard lesson to learn.”

Kai’s shoulders droop again. “I’m trying.”

“I believe you,” Lucian says. “But trying isn’t the same as doing. Alisha’s not just some girl. She grew up in our house. We love her. She’s family, yeah?”

Kai winces like the words sting.

“And you hurt her,” Lucian says softly. “You didn’t mean to. But you did .”

“I know,” Kai says, voice thick. “I know, and I hate myself for it.”

“Don’t waste energy hating yourself. Use it to grow,” Lucian tells him. “You want her back?”

Kai nods instantly.

“Then you’ve got work to do.”

Kai’s eyes flick toward me, but he doesn’t speak. Lucian leans back against the couch.

“You don’t earn someone back with grand gestures. You do it by being better. Every single day. By showing her that the boy who made that mistake isn’t the man you’re becoming.”

Silence stretches for a beat before Lucian adds, “She might not take you back.”

Kai blinks rapidly, trying not to cry again. “I know.”

“But if you love her,” Lucian says, “then your goal isn’t to win her back. It’s to become the kind of man who deserves her. Whether she chooses you again or not.”

Kai nods, slower this time. It’s the kind of nod you give when you understand something you wish you didn’t have to.

“I should head back to campus,” he says quietly.

Lucian stands and gives him a solid, one-armed hug, clapping his back once. “Text when you get there.”

Kai turns to me, hesitating.

I pull him into a hug without hesitation. “Fix yourself, baby boy. I love you.”

He squeezes me tight, whispers, “Love you too,” then heads out the door.

Silence settles like dust once he’s gone. We settle on our couch.

Lucian exhales long and low. “Well... that was awful.”

I lean into his side, cheek against his shoulder. “You were good.”

“I was trying not to go full interrogation mode.”

I smile faintly.

We fall into a comfortable silence. Lucian shifts to look at me. “Do you think they’ll be okay?”

“I don’t know,” I whisper. “I mean... we are. But... I don’t know.”

He nods slowly, presses a kiss to my forehead, then my cheek.

“Maybe if he gets her really good plushy slippers,” I sigh and snuggle into him.

He chuckles. And then cups my face and kisses me slow and deep, like he’s sealing another vow.

Which is when I decide to ruin his peace.

I pull back just enough to whisper, “Your daughter...”

I pause for dramatic effect. “Has a boyfriend named LLLandon.”

I emphasize the ‘L’. He freezes—full-body stiffens.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Fuck no.”

“Lucian.”

He lets out a groan from the pit of his soul. “Fucking Lamebrain ? Are you serious?”

I nod solemnly. “And she said he’s smart, respectful, and—wait for it—‘emotionally intelligent.’”

Lucian drops his head back against the couch like the weight of fatherhood just physically collapsed onto him. He’s been dreading this for almost four years now. “This is it. This is my villain origin story.”

I burst out laughing. “You’re being dramatic.”

“No, I’m being realistic ,” he mutters into his palms. “My baby girl has a boyfriend. Named... Landon .”

His face twists in disgust.

“She said he’s in pre-law,” I add unhelpfully.

He glares at the ceiling like it personally betrayed him. “He’ll know exactly how to manipulate me legally.”

I curl into his side, laughter still bubbling in my chest. “Relax, Mr. Vale. You’ve got time to plot your cross-examination.”

“I already started,” he says darkly. “First question: What are your intentions with my daughter and why do they suck?”

I giggle and kiss his shoulder. He exhales, wrapping an arm around me.

A long, quiet moment stretches between us—comfortable, familiar. And full of every version of love we’ve ever known. From broken pieces to rebuilt hearts. From bruises to becoming.

“Still can’t believe we have kids in university,” he murmurs wistfully.

“I still can’t believe you proposed to me with my robe half open.”

He laughs, low and soft. “That wasn’t a proposal, woman. That was a—”

“Warning,” I finish with an eye roll. “Yeah, yeah. I know.”

He smiles into my hair, and this time when he speaks, it’s soft and certain. “Thank god for those damn slippers.”

And just like that, right there on our couch, we burst into laughter. Still imperfect. Still us. Still worth it.