Page 135 of Strictly the Worst

“Yes,” I say softly. “I do. Every time I look at my daughter I know for sure it was worth it.” I take a sip of coffee. “But even if we didn’t have children, even then, I think it was. I learned more about myself during our breakup than I had in our whole marriage. I learned what I wanted from a relationship. And that I needed to be a strong, independent woman to have one.”

For the first time, her lips curl. It’s the gentlest of smiles. “I wish I’d learned that.”

“Maybe you did,” I say. “You certainly taught your son that.”

Her eyes shine as she nods. “I hope so.”

“Can I give you some advice?” I ask her. “Mom to mom?” It feels weird since we’re different generations. It should be the other way around. And yet she nods, looking almost excited to hear what I have to say.

“Your son loves you. He wants you to be happy. He wants everybody to be happy. But maybe you need to show him the real you. Talk to him. Stop pretending everything is okay when it isn’t.” I feel myself blush because I learned from my own mistake there. “Let him know it’s okay not to be okay.”

She gives me a watery smile and nods. “I’m going to talk to him.”

“I’m glad.”

“But first let me talk to you,” she says. “Tell me about your daughter. Zoe, right?”

“That’s right,” I say, feeling relieved at the change in conversation. “She’s thirteen years old but she thinks she’s thirty.”

Deandra gives me a soft smile. And damn if it isn’t the same smile as Linc’s. “Tell me about it,” she says. “Even recalling the teenage years fills me with dread.”

“I look forward to hearing more about that,” I tell her and her smile widens. “With added photographs.”

“Oh, I have them all. From baby photos to now, with all those awkward in between stages. Next time you’ll have to come to my apartment and I’ll show you them all.”

“I’d like that.” Our gazes meet and I feel myself relax. It isn’t perfect, but it’s a start. “Shall we call Linc and ask him to join us?” I ask her. “Put him out of his misery.”

She wrinkles her nose. “I guess so.” But there’s a happiness in her voice that only comes from thinking about her son.

“Okay then.” I take out my phone and send him a message.

“Thank you,” she says softly.

“Any time.” It’s not like we’re best friends. Or anything approaching that. But there’s something here. A growing understanding.

And it’s enough. Because Linc and I are adults. We don’t need her approval to work.

I just want him to be happy. That’s it really.

Ten minutes later, Linc walks into the restaurant. He stops at where I’m sitting and kisses my cheek. “Everything okay?” he murmurs, his expression wary.

I nod, smiling at him. He pulls out the chair next to mine and the waitress gives him a menu.

“Mom.” He gives her a nod, sliding his arm behind my chair. And though he doesn’t say anything, his whole body language is telling us exactly what he thinks.

If there’s a side to be chosen, he’d pick mine. It makes my heart feel full.

“I’m sorry,” Deandra says to him. “I’ve apologized to Tessa and she’s graciously accepted it.”

“Good,” Linc says, taking the coffee the waitress brings over. “You were out of line.”

“Yes, I was.” Her lips part as she softly exhales. “But I’m sorry for more than that. For what I’ve put you through. The secret I made you keep.”

Linc blinks. He shifts in his seat and his jaw stiffens. I reach out and squeeze his thigh.

“Asking a child to keep a secret like that was wrong.” Her eyes fill with tears. “I’m so sorry.”

He nods, taking a sip of his coffee. I go to move my hand away from his thigh but he clamps it down with his free hand.

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