Page 100 of Someday You Learn

“His mood shifted instantly. He told me that there were times he expressed his concerns about her work but tried to support her as much as he could. So, I asked him to do the same for me. I almost told him right then and there what I’ve been up to, but I can’t. Not yet. There’s still too many unknowns and I don’t want to jeopardize my side of my deal with Parker.”

Hazel steps toward me, placing her arm around my shoulder, her eyes moving around the room. “Just keep making this place the best it can be and hope that he can see all of the love you’ve poured into it. If not, then maybe the man needs reminding about what it means to be a supportive father, and I have no problem giving him that with a knuckle sandwich on the side.”

Willow rolls her eyes. “You beating up an old man isn’t going to solve anything, Hazel.”

She turns to face her sister-in-law. “You don’t know that.”

I squeeze Hazel from the side. “I appreciate the offer, but physical harm isn’t necessary. He’ll either accept it or he won’t, but either way, at least I’ll have what I’ve always wanted out of this, and hopefully Parker will too. I talked to my dad about his decision a bit during our lunch and told him he’d be stupid to pick Seth.” I chew on my bottom lip. “I might have also told him that Parker has plans for the practice if he takes over though, and I’m not exactly sure that’s true.”

Hazel rolls her eyes. “If I know my brother, I’m sure that it is. But you might want to give him a heads-up.”

“I’m going to talk to him about it tonight. He got home late last night, and we uh, didn’t exactly do a lot of talking before we went to sleep.” My cheeks flush as the girls gawk at me.

Hazel gags. “Didn’t need to know that.”

Willow takes a step closer to us. “So things are going well with him?”

“Yes, but he still hasn’t opened up about certain things. And he uh…has these appointments on Monday nights that make him come home late.”

“Okay…”

“But he won’t tell me what they’re for.”

“Have you tried sex again?” Hazel asks as I shove her off me, her laughter ringing out.

“No, and that’s not how I want to get him to open up. I’m hoping that, with time, he’ll want to tell me. But if he doesn’t… How can I trust him fully if he’s keeping secrets? And how can I avoid triggering him if I don’t even know what he’s dealing with?”

“Any idea what it could be?” Willow asks, turning to Hazel.

“Maybe he’s getting his balls waxed,” Hazel says with a shrug.

Willow and I stare at her in disbelief. “What the hell is wrong with you?” Willow demands, shaking her head at her sister-in-law.

Hazel holds her hands up. “Hey, it’s something a guy wouldn’t want to share with someone!”

“Don’t you think Cashlynn would know if Parker gets his balls waxed, though?”

Hazel’s hands drop to her side. “Good point.”

“Not that we should even be discussing this, but I know for a fact that’s not it.”

Willows blows out a breath, still shaking her head. “Okay, well… I’m sure it’s not something bad. I mean, all the man does is work and exercise. Is he going to a gym?”

I shake my head. “He has pretty much every piece of equipment you could think of in his garage. That wouldn’t make any sense. And he doesn’t come home sweaty. But, his hair is always a mess when he walks in, like he’s been running his hands through it, or someone else has,” I say, my stomach churning at the thought.

Hazel takes a step toward me. “He is not cheating on you, so don’t even think it.” I nod as she continues. “My brother is a lot of things, but a cheater is not one of them.”

“I think so too, but I’m just in the dark, and he won’t talk to me about it. Everything feels very surface-level right now—except the sex. That’s still amazing.”

“Men are so fragile when it comes to feelings,” Willow says, running her nails absently across her stomach. “I can tell you this—my son won’t be afraid of talking about his emotions, not after the roadblocks Dallas and I have both overcome in that department.”

Hazel wraps her arm around Willow’s shoulders. “And women everywhere will be thanking you for generations to come.”

Chapter eighteen

Cashlynn

“Hey, you two. Welcome!” Willow greets us with a big smile as she opens her front door. Parker’s hand rests possessively on my lower back as we step inside, something I’m growing ridiculously fond of.

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