Page 114 of Sweet Thing

“You think talking will save you. No fucking way.”

The raised voices brought in spectators, starting with my mom carrying Mabel. The rest of the family crowded in behind her.

“What’s going on?” Mom looked at me, then her husband as no one spoke. “Will someone tell me what’s happening?”

“Nyquist has been messing around with Addy.” My father could barely get the words out. “He took advantage?—”

“No one took advantage. I’m a grown woman?—”

“You’re barely twenty-one!”

“I’m twenty-three, Dad.”

“And he’s what? Forty?”

I rolled my eyes. “He’s thirty-six. And I’m not a child. Yes, I’myourchild, but you were going to hate anyone I date anyway.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Hatch’s wince.

My father threw up his hands. “Nope, not good enough. I’d like to see you with someone age-fucking-appropriate. Not this guy. A user, like his old man.”

“That’s not fair.”

“No, Adeline, it’s okay.” Lars placed a hand on my back. “Your dad’s not wrong. I’m not what any man would choose for his daughter. And if I’d thought this was right, I would have been up front about it.”

“What’s happening?” Aurora came barging in, plowing her way through her gawping great-grandchildren. “I was in the bathroom. What’s the fuss?”

“Lars has been hooking up with Adeline,” Landon said.

“Lars? Well, of course he’s with Adeline. She’s perfect for him.”

“Bopping the nanny, though?” Conor side-eyed Landon, then Aurora. “Kind of a cliché.”

“Could you both be quiet?” My mom handed off the baby to Aurora. “In fact, everyone into the other room now. I’d like to talk with the principal players here.”

“Apparently we’re only supporting cast in this tragedy,” Landon sniffed and left the dining room with the rest of them.

My mom closed the French door and stood with her back to the windows, protecting us somewhat from prying eyes. “I thought you two were no longer together.”

Dad cut to Mom, his eyes wide with shock. “You knew?”

“I was under the impression it was finished.”

“It is,” I said. “We were just talking.”

“Well, you have your official nanny now,” Dad growled. “So you can quit sniffing around my daughter.”

Lars gutted out, “That’s not how it was, Theo.”

“Not how it was?” My father lunged, and again, I stood between them.

I turned to Lars. “It might be better if you go.”

“What? No. I’m not leaving you to face this.”

“He needs to settle down.”

“Stop talking about me like I’m not here.”

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