Page 104 of Saving Ren

“That as well,” he says as he stands.

Giving a chin lift to Gabe as his goodbye, I walk my kid down to his car, enjoy a long cuddle, and tell him to keep me posted on news of his dad. I hate that he’s worried, but also kind of proud that I raised him right, and despite everything, he still is.

When I head back up and out to the deck, Gabe has ended his call and is looking out towards the bay. I lean against the rail next to him.

“You think he’d off himself?” he questions almost instantly.

My brows raise at his bluntness as I consider my answer. “I don’t know, but I honestly can’t say that I knowanythingabout the man who’s been using me as his punching bag for almost a year, so who knows.”

“Do you care?” Gabe turns towards me and asks.

I don’t hesitate with my answer. “Of course I care. I don’t want my kids to lose a parent to suicide. Would you want that for Ava?” I’m a little taken aback by his question and stare at him with my mouth open even when I finish my response.

“Of course not. I’m just trying to gauge where your head’s at with this news, that’s all. We’ve had a good week, I don’t wanna see you disappear inside your own head again and lose yourself.”

He reaches out, hooks his arm around my neck, and pulls me into him.

“I like having you around, plus I’ve just spent the last fifteen minutes telling my daughter all about you.”

He shifts us so my back is against the railing and traps me there with his body pressed against mine.

“How’d that go?” I ask.

“She’s cool with it, can't wait to meet you. Maybe a little disappointed I’m not actually gay like she’s been convinced I am the past year or so because apparently, that’d be way cooler. But having a hot dad is nearly as cool as having a gay dad, so she’s not too disappointed.”

“She seriously thought you were gay?” I ask.

“Yep. My dad’s asked me before too.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Would it have been a problem if you were?” I ask. Wondering what kind of man Gabe’s father is.

“My old man?”

“Yeah.”

“Fuck no. He’s lost too many people in his life to give a fuck about that kind of thing. Love is love is the way we were raised.”

“As it should be. So why then, what made them think that? Have they never met any of your other girlfriends?”

“Little Bird, have you not listened to what I’ve been telling you the past few weeks? There have been no girlfriends. Until you, there’s been no one I’ve ever wanted a relationship with, and I’d only ever introduce someone I was in a relationship with to Ava, I’d never expose her to a conveyor belt of one-night stands. That’s why I’d never bring anyone back here. It’s her home. . .”

He shrugs and trails off.

“Do you never go on dates the weekends she stays here?”

His arms are wrapped around me. The fingertips of one of his hands are massaging my scalp, the others are under my T, tracing the bumps along my spine.

“Never. When she’s here, she gets all of me. She started getting bored with that a couple of years ago, and now, Sophie, her best mate comes with her a lot of the time. Other times, Dani, my sister, will come over and stay. To be honest, I think she’s been worried I’d always be on my own and sounded relieved that I’ve finally met someone.”

“Is her mate coming with her this time?”

“Yeah.”

“Great,” I mumble.