Page 104 of Everlasting Promises

I squeeze Hope’s hand. “Thank you. I’ll make it up to you later,” I say, then turn back toward my parents. “Hope and Evan are coming to dinner, too.”

Mom smiles like she just stepped in Rex’s shit and glances between the three of us. “We’re dining atThe Four Seasonstonight.” She eyeballs Hope and Evan up and down, then glancesat Dad. “I’m not sure we can change the reservation from three to five with such little notice.”

“Oh, that’s o—” Hope starts, but I squeeze her hand to stop her from bailing on me.

“No problem. You’ve probably eaten there every night this week. We can order takeout and eat here.”

Mom scrunches up her nose, much like Hope did, but it was so much more adorable on Hope. “I don’t think so. If you can’t give up one evening to have dinner with your parents, then I don’t even know why we bothered stopping by.” She pouts as she eyes Hope and Evan like they’ve personally affronted her. “I wouldn’t have thought it would be asking too much to spend one evening with ouronlyson. It’s not like we can see each other often with youchoosingto live in the city.” She points her nose to the darkening sky. “I see I was mistaken, and we’re not important enough for you.”

I’m reasonably certain she took lessons in how to guilt trip heronlyson. She often made me feel like I was in the way or that I took up too much of her valuable time. There was a time when I would play into her guilt. I would change my plans without question. But I’m older and wiser now, and there’s no way I’m prepared to adjust tonight’s plans to fit in with them. They could have phoned ahead to make arrangements with me like normal people do, but they chose not to. I’m tired of them assuming I’ll drop everything for them.

Not anymore.

I’m no longer that kid who devotes everything I am and pushes aside my wants and needs to make his parents happy when they never returned the sentiment.

I shrug carelessly. “Then I guess we’ll have to catch up the next time you and Dad are in town.”

Hope’s eyes have been following our conversation, progressively growing more concerned. Squeezing my hand, shepulls me back slightly. “I don’t understand what’s happening here, but I think you should have dinner with your parents. Your mom seems upset. Why are you being so stubborn about this?” she whispers, concern tightening her features. “They’re your parents.”

Mom folds her arms across her chest and narrows her eyes with a noisy exhale. “I suppose we could stay for a short while.”

I smile at Hope and raise my eyebrows. “Sounds good.” I hold my arm out toward my front door. “Come on in.”

48

HOPE

This is notthe man I’ve grown to know. He’s always so easygoing and amenable, but I think I understand why he’s not adjusting his plans to suit his parents. They’re certainly not what I expected. Ben’s so warm. Considerate. Compassionate. Thoughtful.

And they’re … none of those things, from what I can tell.

“That dog’s not coming inside while we’re here,” Robert states bluntly, pointing at Rex, as if it’s his home and his decision.

Evan—who they’ve failed to acknowledge—looks at me with raised brows, and Ben’s shoulders stiffen as he blows out a long breath. “He sure is. This is his home, and I’m not leaving him outside in the cold.”

His dad mumbles something under his breath as he crosses the threshold of the front door.

“You’ll at least lock him in the laundry,” his mom states. She’s telling, not asking, and I get the impression that she never asks—sheexpects. I’m truly baffled by how Ben’s turned out theway he has, even after this brief interaction with his parents. Maybe they weren’t always like this.

Ben ignores her and locks the front door behind us as we remove our coats.

I nudge Evan’s arm to get his attention. “Can you please give Rex fresh water while I wash up?”

He nods and says, “Sure, Mom,” as we separate to head in different directions.

“I see nothing’s changed and you’re still collecting strays,” Elaine says snidely as soon as I’m out of sight, obviously talking about Evan and me.

My steps stall along with my heart as I wait to hear Ben’s response while hoping Evan didn’t hear her.

“Enough! I’ve tried to be a respectful son, but you need to stop,” he snaps in a harsh whisper. “Hope and Evan are important to me. If I have my way, they’re going to be part of my life for a long time. So, if you can’t be a decent human being and be respectful, then you should leave.”

I hear her gasp, and a smile grows with no guidance from me. I can’t believe what he just said, though I shouldn’t be surprised. He’s always been honest and open about his feelings and intentions. It boggles my mind that I’ve met a man like him. So emotionally available. A man who doesn’t play games.

The girls often talk about the men they meet and their lack of emotional maturity. It’s something I experienced with Wyatt, but I put it down to us being young. I figured he’d mature as we grew older. Ben has it in spades, and it’s such an attractive quality. If anything gives me the confidence to move forward with him, it’s that.

Stepping into the kitchen, Evan’s texting on his phone, Ben’s feeding Rex, and his parents are sitting at the dining table with pinched faces, like they’re surrounded by filth. Which they’re not. Ben’s meticulous about keeping his home clean and tidy,something that surprised me the first time we visited. I expected a bachelor pad, but his home was the complete opposite.

I paste on a smile. Ben needs my support; that’s why he begged us to stay. For the first time, I can do something for him, and I intend to show him I’m here for him, just as he’s been for me and Evan. “Can I get you both a drink? Ben has beer, wine, juice, and soda.”

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