Page 19 of Just Between Us

“I think that’s why I need to talk about it.”

“Is Rich worth it?”

I winced again. “Uhhh…”

Mum again raised an eyebrow. “He means that much to you?”

I nodded. “I think so.”

Mum’s response was making me more nervous. She was taking it too well, and I was expecting her to explode with anger about it.

Maybe she’s saving it for Rich.

“Look, I think you need to be honest with Annie, but I also know you’re going to have to think about that very carefully as to how you want to handle it. Get on the phone to her and get your asses out on the town tonight. I’ll think about how best to help you.”

I nodded. I wasn’t as relieved as I thought I would be at finally getting my secret out, but this wasn’t something that needed a rash reaction. I did what Mum suggested, headed off to my room, and fired off a text to Rich to let him know Mum was probably going to talk to him.

Shit.

CHAPTER TWENTY

RICH

Kids are going out tonight and I’m coming over for a chat.

I staredat Gillian’s message and recoiled. She was going to chew my balls off for having defiled her daughter, and I knew it. A simple ‘okay’ was all I replied and I started to think about what was coming my way later.

About ten minutesafter Lucy and Annie had left, there was a knock on my front door. I steeled myself for the rightful blasting I was about to take in the light of everything that was going on.

Gillian glared at me and walked past with a bottle of rum in her hand. “Get glasses,” she demanded.

I obeyed and returned to the living room, setting two glasses on the coffee table and parking myself on the opposite side of it from her. She stayed in complete silence, poured out two shorts of rum, and handed me one of them.

“So, you and Lucy.”

I nodded, playing with the glass in my hand.

“It’s serious?”

I looked at her. My mouth opened, but the words wouldn’t form, and she just nodded and knocked back her drink in one mouthful.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Christ Almighty, Rich. It’s written all over your face how much you feel for my girl.”

Her girl. Ouch. The reality of the age gap hit me like a slap in the face. I knocked back my own rum and let the burning in my throat distract me from the sting in my cheeks.

Gillian refilled both glasses. “Have you truly thought this through?” She shook her head at me.

“I know how I feel.”

“That wasn’t what I asked.”

I sighed. “As much as I can, but a lot of it depends on her, doesn’t it?”

Gillian nodded. “And if she wants a happily ever after?”

I tried not to smile at the thought of being able to give that to Lucy. Lord, I knew I wanted to. If she would have me forever, I would happily be there for her.

Gillian read my face all too well and sighed. “And if she wants to walk away? If she decides the age gap is too much and she needs to move on with her life, are you going to be able to handle that?”

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