Page 55 of Loving Wild

“What? Your ex, Lena? Why would your dad . . .”

“Hedidn’t.”

“Oh,” I mouth as realisation hits me.

“Lena has never been invited, not even when we were together.”

I move into him with my shoulder, forcing his arm to lift and come around me.

“I promise not to let her push my buttons if you promise to do the same,” I offer.

He huffs. “The woman’s a straight-up . . .”

“Yo, Pops, your favourite granddaughter’s here, time to get this party started,” Ava shouts from somewhere in the garden.

“I swear she’s my sister’s kid and not Lena’s,” Zac says as he hands me a glass of Prosecco and Gabe a beer.

“Well, given your family history,” I say with a wink and shrug before taking a sip of my drink.

“Not even a little bit funny,” Gabe rumbles at the same time Zac chokes, and snorts beer out of his nose at my response.

Deciding I’m going to need backup to get me through this, I finish my drink and go searching for another just thirty seconds later.

Chapter 14

Gabe.

With my handin the small of Lauren’s back, I guide us to where my dad is standing talking to a couple of his mates. He gave me a chin lift as soon as we walked in, but I wasn’t sure if Jackie was with him, and after Jess told me she’d invited Lena, I needed a couple of drinks before I could face her without losing my shit.

I don’t want any part of this day to be spoiled by Jackie or my past. I want my dad to enjoy his birthday, and I want to enjoy Lauren becoming a part of my family. Up until this moment, I hadn’t realised just how important that was to me. Lena never made the effort to get to know them, never once came with me to a family dinner, birthday celebration, or get together of any kind in the short time that we were together, and apart from the couple of times I’ve taken Alysa to a work function, this is the very first time I’ve brought someone with me. I’m thirty-five years old, and never had anyone in my life I’ve wanted to introduce to my dad as my girlfriend.

Turning towards me, my old man holds out his hand. Moving mine from Lauren’s back, I take it but only get a chance to give it a small shake before he pulls me in and gives me a couple of manly slaps on my back.

“Good to see you here, boy,” he says into my ear while squeezing the back of my neck.

My appearance at these events has been sporadic over the years. For so many different reasons I’ve found them hard. Today though, I want to be here, for him at least.

“Good to see you, old man,” I tell him before stepping back. “Dad, this is Lauren Day. Ren, this is my dad, Joe Wild.”

Lauren steps forward with her hand out towards my dad, he shakes it while giving her a big smile.

“Good to finally meet you, thanks for the invite,” Lauren says before stepping back, tucking herself into my side and sliding her arm around my waist. I lean in and kiss her temple. Lauren talks a good talk, but I know she’s been nervous about meeting my dad.

“Good to have you here, Lauren. Gabe tells me you’re originally from Essex?”

“I am, been here since I was thirteen though.”

“You go back at all?” he asks.

“A couple of times, but not for a while. My immediate family are all here, and no one there really remembers me, so . . .”

She trails off with a shrug before adding, “Although, my eldest son is over there right now. He’s a professional rugby player. His girlfriend was born there, so she was able to go with him to work and carry on her studies. She’s a paediatrician at a big London hospital. Do you go back often?”

“Not anymore,” my dad tells her with a smile and a shake of his head. “Bit like you, everyone that matters most to me is here now.”

Zac appears at my side and puts a glass of what I know is bourbon in my hand, and swaps Lauren’s empty glass for a full one.

“Jackie’s just come down the stairs. She’s seen you and is making her way over,” he says quietly into my ear. Lauren and my dad are still talking as Sam and Jess join us for what I know is moral support.