Page 113 of His Greatest Treasure

“Someone,” he corrects me.

“You don’t run from anything, Oliver. So what are you really doing here?”

“Avoiding doing something stupid and reckless.”

My brows jump as I drop both my arms over the back of the couch and replicate his stance. “Since when are you either of those things?”

“Since I fell in love, apparently.”

The admission is unexpected enough that I have to clear my throat to hide my surprise before speaking. “Love?”

“You and Mom. It wasn’t easy, was it?”

“Do you want the answer your mother would give you or mine?”

“If I wanted hers, I’d be upstairs with her right now,” he mutters.

I roll my lips to hide a smile at his bluntness and nod. “Alright. No, it wasn’t easy. I was an asshole to her, and she overlooked that fact far too many times than I deserved and gave me a million chances when I should have only needed one. Your mother fought for me when I was too stuck in my head to see what was right in front of me. In a perfect world, I wouldn’t have let myself believe I was unworthy of her and instead not wasted a single day with her fighting what had always been inevitable.”

“Did she ever regret fighting so hard for you?”

“If she did, she never told me. Never acted like it either.” I keep my eyes trained on him and watch as his frown deepens. “What’s going on, Oliver?”

He pushes out a tight exhale and spins, leaning his back against the couch. Arms crossing, he tips his head back to stare at the ceiling.

“I’ve never had a problem fighting for anything, Dad. Not when it comes to those important to me. But being patient andwaiting, that’s where I struggle. And I’m struggling right now,” he admits.

“You’re talking about Avery?”

He jerks his head in what I take to be a nod. “Her ex is sniffing around and making a mess of things. She wants to handle it herself, and I’m worried that she doesn’t think I’ll stick around while she does.”

“But you’d rather take care of it for her.” I don’t mention the sticking around part. We both know that isn’t the problem here.

“Leaving her to deal with it alone doesn’t feel right. Not when I’m the reason he’s trying to throw his weight around.”

“Do you doubt that she can handle her own problems without you? Because I’m pretty sure she’s done just that for a long time now, son. You have to have faith in your girl.”

He turns his head to glare at me. “I do have faith in her. It has nothing to do with that.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

“I don’t want space from her,” he grumbles.

My laugh escapes me before I can reel it back in. His glare intensifies when I don’t immediately shut up. But how am I supposed to pretend that my son isn’t as dramatic of a fucker as I am?

“You’re here in the basement brooding like a heartbroken teen because you miss your girl?”

“Fuck off, Dad.”

“I never thought I’d see the day.”

He shoves his elbow into my ribs and takes a step away from me, scowl harsh. “I should have spoken to Mom instead.”

“No, you shouldn’t have because she’d be driving you to Avery’s house right now at the first sight of you looking like a lovesick puppy. And that’s not what you need to do.”

“Are you going to tell me what I need to do, then?”

“Your uncle Oakley would call you an idiot for listening to a word of advice from me.”

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