Page 96 of Riverbend Gap (Riverbend 1)

Gavin’s gaze remained locked on Cooper. “Whatever you say, Mom.”

From the grill Jeff greeted Cooper, and Avery sidled over to the table, taking a precarious position between Gavin and him. “I, for one, am glad Dad and Lisa forced this meeting. Being the go-between is getting a little old.”

“And Jeff and I are tired of hosting family suppers to have only Avery turn up. No offense, honey.”

“None taken.”

“We’re family.” Jeff appeared at Lisa’s side. “No matter what goes down between us, we have to forgive and move on.”

Gavin slowly stood, jerking a thumb in Cooper’s direction. “And we just let him off the hook?”

Time to man up. “Listen, I’m really sorry, Gavin. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I take full responsibility for what happened. It was all my fault.”

Gavin smirked. “That’s not the way Katie’s telling it. Maybe you two should’ve gotten your stories straight.”

Heat flushed through Cooper’s neck. He had no idea what Kate was saying or thinking. “I haven’t even seen or talked—”

“Sure, you haven’t.”

“—to Katie since... since that day.”

“Since you kissed her, you mean?”

“All right, Gavin,” Avery said. “Stop provoking him. That’s not productive.”

Gavin glared at her. “And keeping this from me was? I haven’t forgotten you betrayed me too.”

“I did not betray—”

“You could’ve warned me!” He turned his glower on Cooper. “And you. You have a big mouth. You had no right to tell Katie about my son.”

Jesse.Cooper grimaced. “I thought you’d already told her about—”

“Shut up! I don’t want to hear your excuses.”

Mom stepped closer. “All right, you guys, that’s enough.”

“Did you know about them too?” Gavin’s tone was accusing. “You and Jeff? Was I the last one to find out?”

“Of course we didn’t know, and I don’t care for your tone.”

“There was nothing to know. We hadn’t even done anything.”

“Until you made out at the Dairy Bar in broad daylight?”

Mom shelved her hands on her hips. “Can we please just have a calm—”

“Come on, sweetheart.” Jeff eased Mom away. “Let them figure it out.”

“What do you want from me?” Cooper asked Gavin. “I can’t exactly turn back time and make a different decision. I said I’m sorry and I am.”

“I was betrayed by my brother and the woman I was falling for. And my sister knew what was going on and didn’t tell me. So excuse me if forgiveness isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.”

“Then we’re at a dead end because there’s nothing else I can do at this point. And you can stop blaming Avery. I convinced her she had nothing to worry about.”

“Aren’t you a big man, taking all the blame. And you lied to her because obviously therewassomething to worry about.”

“I thought I had it under control. I tried not to...”