Page 90 of War

The music playing in the living room comes to an end, and Dory and my father clap. “Okay, fighter. It’s time for bed.”

Brayden checks the time on his phone—eight p.m.—then eyes me. “Real smooth, man. It isn’t obvious at all that you’re trying to get them out of here.”

Before I can rough my knuckles over his head and give him shit for his snark, my father stands.

Instantly, a little of the tension drains out of me. Almost there. Justhave to get them to the door, and then we’re home free. Josie doles out hugs, and then she turns to Ava. “Can you tuck me in?”

Ava runs a hand over her head. “Sure can, love bug.”

“Actually,” Dory says. “Brayden, can you take Josie up? I’d like to talk to Ava before we leave.”

My stomach plummets. Shit. We were so close.

For all his shit talk, Brayden looks at me for permission. With a small nod, I give him the okay. It’s better that we don’t put him or Josie through this. I can only imagine what Dory has to say.

Instinctively, I reach for Ava, motivated by the need to protect her. Her hand is shaking as I tighten mine around it. Dammit. Why the fuck did I put her in this situation?

“Xander says you won’t return his phone calls,” Dory starts.

My blood pressure spikes. Xander has been calling my wife? Why hasn’t Ava told me that he’s been bothering her?

My father nods toward the front door. “Son, why don’t we let them talk alone?”

Shoulders back, I lift my chin and eye him, then his wife. “I’m fine right where I am.”

Dory’s lip curls in a sneer. “You never could figure out when you were unwanted.”

My wife sucks in a breath so harsh, it sounds like a hiss, and suddenly, rather than cowering, she’s standing tall too. “What did you just say?”

Dory rolls her eyes. “This doesn’t involve you, Tyler. Go with your father. We both know that’s what this is about, after all.”

“Whatwhat’sabout?” I take a step forward.

With an arm extended, Ava pushes me back slightly, kind of like my mom used to when she’d have to hit her brakes a little too hard. It’s protective. Loving. For a moment, I’m unable to move. My heart pounds out a warning that I need to protect her, but the pressure of her hand on my chest tells me she’s got this.

“You’re so worried about what I did or didn’t do to your son,” Ava says, her tone fierce. “But what about what you did to your husband’s son?”

Wearing a snide smile, Dory tilts her head. “And what did he tell you I did?” She looks down her nose at me—a feat, seeing as how I’m close to a foot taller than she is—like I’m worthless. It’s how she’s always looked at me. “I took care of him when no one else would have put up with him. Tyler was a difficult child, and his hobby was ridiculously expensive. Do you have any idea the sacrifices we had to make so he could becomethis?” She waves at me like I’m still nothing but a disappointment. “Meanwhile, my son is the one helping Chandler run his business.”

“I think we should say good night and talk about this another time, when we’ve had time to cool down,” my father says, grabbing Dory by the elbow.

My father may disappoint me, but I’ve never been angry at my father for his shortcomings. Tonight, though? Tonight I’m pissed. His wife came into my house and talked down to my wife, and all he has to say islet’s talk about this another time?

“What you did,” Ava says, her attention returning to the original question Dory posed, “was nothing.” She lifts her shoulders and lets them fall. “You didnothingfor your husband’sson. A boy who lost his mother.” Her voice cracks. “A boy who just wanted a family. You’re a disgrace. So don’t speak to my husband unless you can show him some damn respect.And love.Because that’s what a family does. They love one another.” Ava looks at me, her eyes full of emotion. I swear I can see it there. How she truly feels. My vicious wife is fighting my battles for me instead of fighting against me. It’s one more version of her I adore. The list of things I love about her just keeps growing. It’s a problem. I’ll likely get my heart broken because I’m not good enough for her, but god, I can’t force myself to protect my heart.

I grasp her hand, which is still flat against my chest, and squeeze it. Then I look at my father. “I think you should leave.”

With a screech, Dory smacks his arm. “Say something.”

My father blinks like he’s not sure how the hell things turned out like this. Then he sighs. “I’ll call you tomorrow, Tyler.”

Still gripping his wife’s elbow, he leads her toward the door. All the way, she argues with him. It hurts watching him leave with her. It hurts even more that he didn’t stick up for me or even try to understand. But I’m used to his indifference.

“I’m so sorry,” Ava whispers a heartbeat after the door shuts.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“I should have let her come at me, kept the fallout there. She’s not wrong. From the outside, it looks awful, how I jumped from Xander to you.”

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