Page 82 of Fierce-Dane

He wasn’t sure what the hurry was and almost told her to back off, but if she was willing to help out, then he was going to allow it.

But that meant he had to speak to them first and found he was nervous about this.

Hell, his mother didn’t even know and he realized that was his first mistake.

Shit.

When did things start to get so complicated?

He moved to the back of the house and saw his mother stirring a pot of sauce and the water not boiling yet on the stove for the pasta.

He could take the kids and leave, but he saw them playing a game with his father and knew it wasn’t worth risking them getting in a bad mood.

“Why don’t you stay for dinner,” his mother said. “Now that Tiffani knows what I had planned she’s going to give you a hard time if you leave early.”

“I figured as much,” he said. “It will give us a minute to talk.”

“Everything okay?” his mother asked quietly, matching his tone.

“Yes. Can we go in the front quickly?”

“Dad, don’t leave,” Tiffani said when he started to walk out. “I want to stay for dinner.”

“We are,” he said. “I’ve got to show Grandma Doreen something.”

His daughter went back to the game they were playing without asking what was going on. She didn’t always do that.

“What’s wrong?” his mother asked. “Did you have a fight with Melanie?”

It just made him laugh when he heard everyone call her Melanie and not Mel even to his face.

He wasn’t sure why that thought popped into his head either.

“No,” he said. “But I should tell you something I’m going to tell the kids tonight. I’m dating someone.”

“Ohhhh,” his mother said, her face softening. “I’m so happy for you. Not happy you are only telling me now when if you’re willing to tell the kids it’s got to have been going on for a bit.”

“Yeah,” he said. “A few months. Sorry. Chloe knows and I guess it slipped my mind.”

It was the best he could come up with.

“Don’t lie to me,” his mother said. “I get it. You’re private and you don’t want to be judged. Or have a million questions come your way. If you’re telling the kids tonight, why don’t you do it here? I can be some support for you. It might help.”

He wanted to say no and then realized that he might need it.

His parents gave him a lot of support over the years but not when it came to this. He’d never needed it.

He had no idea how his kids were going to react and maybe it was better to not be alone.

“It’s probably a good idea.”

“Does Melanie know?” his mother asked.

“She found out on Sunday by mistake.” He told his mother about the festival.

“I’m not surprised she acted the way she did,” his mother said. “I always suspected that she wanted to stay with you and this is classic jealousy.”

“No,” he said. “She chose to leave.”

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