Page 110 of Don't Date A DILF

The realization hit, and his face screwed up. “You guys have been lying? I told the truth, and now I’m going to get in trouble, but you both get tolie?”

“We weren’t lying,” Hunter said, remaining commendably calm. “It was pretend at first, just like we said. But things changed, and I really like Clark.”

“What about Mom?” Toby cried. “What about me? Don’t we matter?”

“Of course you do,” Hunter said.

“I can’t believe this!” Toby jumped from his chair. “I did the right thing, and I’m the one who’s going to get punished! It’s not fair!”

“No one has said you’re going to get in trouble,” I said. “We just need to wait and…”

But Toby was done listening. He ran from the room, leaving me reeling.

Hunter sighed. “Damn. That could have gone better.”

“Maybe this was all a mistake,” I said quietly. “I shouldn’t have put any of us in this position.”

“Toby’s just upset. He’ll come around.”

“What if he doesn’t?” I said, my stomach a sick ball of nerves.

“He damn well will,” Hunter said. “I’ll talk to him. I’ll make him understand.”

I pushed back my chair, standing on shaky legs. “No, don’t. He needs time. You can’t force him to accept this. Not before he’s ready.”

“So, what are you saying? I should let my ten-year-old kid decide who I get to date?”

“Haven’t we been doing that all along?” I asked with a rueful smile. “This whole thing started to give Toby time to make peace with losing his mom. He still needs that.”

“But I need you.”

“I’ll talk to my principal and let you know what happens next.”

“Clark…”

“I should go.”

I started for the door, and Hunter followed me. Before I could leave, he stopped me with a hand on my arm. “Hey, listen to me for a second.”

I paused on the threshold, both wanting and fearing his reassurances. I wasn’t sure it mattered what Hunter said now. I was in a tricky position, and I hated that I’d hurt Toby in the process.

“Toby will come around. That kid loves you. And for what it’s worth…I’d rather have you pass off disciplinary measures to someone else than push us out of your life, okay?”

I gave a choppy nod and tried to smile. “Yeah, let’s just…see how this all works out. Give Toby the time and space he needs, okay? With spring break coming up, we can all take some time and figure out where to go from here.”

“I know where to go,” Hunter protested.

“Don’t rush him, Hunter. He needs time to process. This was always the plan.”

He sighed. “Okay, fine. But this isn’t over, Clark. We’re going to work this out.”

I walked out the door, clinging to the hope that Hunter was right, yet fearing that Toby wouldn’t accept our relationship nearly as easily as he expected.

CHAPTER27

HUNTER

I triedto focus on preparing dinner, but my gaze kept straying to my phone.

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