Page 98 of Just Enough

“People don’t normally go to these sorts of things anyway,” she said.

“I’m nervous too, okay? But I love her son with the weight of my soul, and I need this woman to know us and eventually like us.” I stared at her, then Sarah next to her, then Dad on my other side. “I think we’re likable-ish.”

Dad grunted, and I shot him a glare. He turned away and eyed Mom in her dress. “Dad,” I hissed. “Can you not?” With the knowing smirk he gave me and that cheesy grin, I knew he knew what I was talking about.

“You’re looking good, Deb,” he just had to go and say.

Sarah eyed him cautiously.

“You too, Nolan,” Mom replied, casting a small smile at Sarah.

Ugh. So awkward.

Dad was still checking his ex-wife out when he started doing the same to Sarah. “You look nice as well, Sarah.” She grunted and twisted her skirt around in reply. Should I just go ahead and tell them all to go home? “So… You all for the ladies or do you like men too?”

“Dad!” I screeched. I was flaming red in the face with anger and mortification because I had a feeling he was on a roll today and had no plans on stopping.

“Only women,” she replied briskly.

“Shame,” he muttered with a smile. “I wouldn’t mind a three-way.”

OH, MY GOD.

I stopped in front of the door, debating not even knocking and taking Dad home. I loved him, but he still took me by surprise when he acted this way sometimes.

Three-way?I would have laughed at the way he said it if it hadn’t been my dad that said it. Did I think he was just talking about a phone call? No, he was not, so why did he have to go and word it like that.

I snorted. I quickly covered my mouth because I was very much laughing when I said I wouldn’t. I looked over at Mom and Sarah rather apologetically, but Mom was holding back her own laughter.

She grinned over at Dad. “There he is,” she whispered softly. “I’ve missed you this way, ya know?” I saw real sincerity in Mom’s expression. “Maybe not a three-way, but you should date. Hell, with your beer belly gone, you could probably pick up a young one.”

Dad ran his hand over his stomach and demonstrated his charm for Mom. “You could always come to me when you want to cheat, after all, you did on me.” His words were good-natured, but I still felt the chill of them.

“We’re engaged,” Mom said, holding up her hand to display for Dad. “Despite what you might think, I loved you… You just didn’t love us or yourself at the time.”

Dad covered his mouth with his hand and looked ahead instead of at any of us. “I loved us, Deb. I was just inside myself and it took one bad decision to sober me. I was an alcoholic. I don’t blame you for leaving.” He left his words there in the air between them. “But… I wasn’t kidding about the other part if you’re ever looking for a man again.”

“All right,” I interrupted him from going any further. “I’m knocking right now and once I knock, we appear to be somewhat normal, okay?”

“Can we just leave your Mom and her fiancée out here?” Dad surprised me by saying. I tilted my head to the side and peered up at him. “What? Faith doesn’t know Deb left me for a woman, does she?” he grumbled. “Like complaining about my yard wasn’t enough. We’re about to ammo her up.”

I couldn’t help but smirk. “A lesbian mother and her girlfriend, and a recovering alcoholic.” Mom snorted as I spoke. “We got this in the bag. Ain’t none of Benjamin’s girlfriends before me made such an impression as what we’re about to do.” My smile faltered. “This is a disaster.”

The front door opened. Faith was the one to greet us. She wore the friendliest smile until her eyes took us in. Now it didn’t go away—she just looked a little confused. “You remember my mom, right?” I asked her. “This is her fiancée, Sarah, and you already know Dad.”

“Fiancée?” She recovered quickly, maybe realizing she was showing too much surprise. “Come on, all of you. I need to get back to the grill before Benny burns our food.”

“Do you need help with anything?” I asked her.

“You can cut up the tomatoes and bring out the food and drinks in the fridge if you’d like.”

I nodded eagerly, pleased that she was being normal. “Yeah. I don’t mind at all.”

“We can help,” Mom offered.

“Where’s Ben?” Dad asked her.

“Outside,” Faith replied before leaning in as Dad walked by her. “Does, uh, Ben know your ex-wife is…?”

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