Page 74 of Mr. Infuriating (Mister #1)

Gretchen

It was bad enough I’d gone and fallen in love with Gabe Mitchell and his kids, I’d let my son do it, too.

He’d talked about “Bandit,” Brittany, and even Brayden the entire car ride to my parents’ house.

Fortunately, seeing his daideó and mamó, had been a distraction. But it was only temporary because my mom came into the kitchen where I was grading papers and asked, “So, who are Bandit, Bit-nee, and Bwaydon?”

“He calls Gabe ‘Bandit’. You met Gabe. He dropped off my cabinets with his brother when you brought Jake home. Brittany and Brayden are his kids.”

“And why is Gabe making pancakes for my grandson?”

“Well… it’s a long story.”

~~

I spilled my guts to my mom, leaving out the more salacious details, but she got the gist of my dilemma.

“Does it have to be temporary? I mean, it sounds like he’s a great guy and you’re compatible…”

“It does if you want any more grandchildren. I don’t think Andrew and Carrie are going to come through for you, and Gabe doesn’t want more kids.”

“I’m still holding out hope for your brother and sister. Have you talked about it with him recently? It sounds like he came around with Jake. Maybe he’s changed his mind about a baby. ”

“I mean, I haven’t come out and directly asked him, but we have talked about how the kids are going to react when things between us end. I think if he’d changed his mind, he’d have said something.”

“Perhaps, but love can be hard to navigate. You might have to put yourself out there and ask him, honey. Let yourself be vulnerable.”

“That didn’t work out so well for me last time.”

“No, but he doesn’t sound anything like Troy. Take a chance. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“He could tell me he’s not interested and break my heart.”

“It sounds like your heart’s going to be broken either way. At least if you talk to him and tell him how you feel, you’ll know you tried.”

“Maybe you’re right…”

She raised her eyebrows. “Maybe?”

That made me laugh. “Okay, probably.” Then my expression grew grim when I thought about putting myself out there to be rejected.

“I think I’d need him to say something before I’d be willing to risk it.”

“Love is risky, honey. But when you find the right one, it makes it all worthwhile. The question you have to ask yourself is, is he the right one ?”

My heart already knew the answer.