Page 99 of My Favorite Sin

I’m not surprised she’s mentioned it to him. Daxton has been good about everything over the last two months, acting as neutral territory between us and our parents. Jordan has too.

Ally responds with an awkward smile but remains quiet. Her gaze drops to her lap.

“Yes,” I answer for the two of us. “It should be… interesting.”

Our parents contacted us shortly after we broke off communication with them. It was a phone call to me from my father. When I didn’t answer, he sent a text addressed to me and Ally, explaining that he and Amabella were regretful over what had gone down between all of us and that they’d like us to speak. Ally ended up replying, thanking him for reaching out but that we needed space.

They respected our wishes. We didn’t hear from them again until a couple of days ago, a text letting us know they’re living back in the city at their apartment on the Upper East Side. They asked if we would visit them. Ally and I had our reservations, but in the end decided enough time has passed that we can all be civil toward each other.

Ally looks up from her lap and takes another sip of her cocktail. “I won’t lie. I’m nervous about seeing Mom and Josh.”

“Don’t be nervous. They want to reconcile things with you both,” Daxton says, like that really adds much comfort.

We’ll be walking into our parents’ home blind, with no indication of what their vision of a reconciliation looks like. Will they embrace our relationship or brush it under the rug, wanting to mend the fallout between us as long as they can ignore that Ally and I are together? I’ve been fucking their daughter and they know it. I can’t see how they’ll be accepting of us. Perhaps their idea of a reconciliation means an attempt at convincing me and Ally out of our relationship.

“They miss you and often ask what you’re both up to,” Daxton continues. “Ally, I told them you’re pursuing Juilliard again. They’re pleased to hear it.”

She’s doing well, attending weekly therapy sessions and practicing the piano a lot. Ally hasn’t tried to get another teaching job. Even if a school manages to overlook all the recent negative press, Ally feels it would be a job steering her in the wrong direction. She has money saved and can afford the luxury of taking time off work to find herself. I’ve told her multiple times I earn more than enough money from poker to pay for anything she needs, but she says I spoil her enough as is.

It doesn’t get lost on me how Daxton hasn’t mentioned to the parents what I’ve been up to. I cough, attempting to hide my laugh. “And the update you gave them on me? I bet they’re pleased to hear I’m still playing poker.”

Daxton laughs at my sarcasm. “I don’t need to update them on that. They see it in the media enough. But they constantly ask about how you are, your father especially. I’ve told them you’re well and happy. The happiest I’ve ever seen you. Both of you. I tell them every time we talk how good you are for each other.”

Ally speaks up, clasping her hands in her lap. “This sounds great in theory, but I can’t see how they will be accepting of my relationship with Dan.”

“Just hear them out, okay?” Daxton says. “Go in with an open mind. I know you don’t like this rift between you and your family. And I, selfishly, want everyone to be united at my wedding. I don’t want family drama there.”

“I second that thought,” Jordan says, bringing her cocktail to her lips and curling into Daxton’s arms. “Please try to find some kind of common ground between all of you.”

There won’t be any drama with my brothers at the wedding. Tyler and Killian have come around in the last few weeks, accepting me and Ally. I assume a lot of Killian’s acceptance had to do with Sacred Heart easing up on him now that Forever Families has stopped making news headlines every day. Tyler isn’t enthusiastic about us as a couple, but then again, he’s never enthusiastic about anything. He’s just learned to be okay with us.

As for our parents…

I rake a hand through my hair, tugging at the ends in silent frustration. Perhaps finding common ground with Amabella will be manageable. It’s my father that’s the real concern. I can barely stand to be in the same room as him. The issues between us go far deeper than his disapproval of me sleeping with Ally. It’s a lifetime of being angry at him for the way he abandoned me as a child, and this isn’t a one-sided issue. He hasn’t been happy about my lifestyle for years. I don’t see how one conversation tomorrow will fix anything or even give us common ground.

“You know, you’re right,” Ally finally says. “You both have been so good to us throughout the last few months. I’ll do this for you, because I don’t want to bring this tension toyour wedding. And because… despite everything that’s happened, I love Mom and Josh. I miss them.”

I can see it in Ally’s eyes how much fixing things with our parents means to her. I’ve seen it every day for the last two months. She tells me this has been the happiest two months of her life, and I know she speaks the truth. We’ve been so incredibly connected and free to finally be us. But I see her sadness peek through from time to time, wishing our family wasn’t so divided.

“Dan, you’ll make an effort too?” Daxton asks.

I bite the inside of my mouth, groaning quietly. My mind is set when I notice Ally’s eyes have turned glassy. I’ll make an effort, not for Daxton and Jordan, even though they’ve been good to me. Not for my parents’ sake.

I’ll do it for Ally.

I’ll doanythingfor Ally because I love her and want her to be happy in every aspect of her life. Which means showing Dad and Amabella that I’m good for Ally and…

Fuck.

I wipe a hand over my face and sigh, knowing what else needs to happen. This family divide won’t ever truly be resolved unless my father and I work on these life-long issues between us.

Ally slides her hand into mine. “Dan, you okay?”

“Yeah,” I murmur, lifting her hand to my lips. “I’m going to make things right. I promise.”

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

ALLY

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