My Almost Ex (The Greene Family #2) - Piper Rayne Page 0,11
like a child.
“We were in an argument. Don’t act like you understand our situation.”
My dad places his hand on my arm to quiet me. The waitress must be used to family drama because she reappears with a smile, pen poised over her notepad, asking what she can get us.
“Just a muffin,” Susan says.
My dad says he’s just having coffee.
“I’ll have an omelet with cheese and bacon. Hash browns, crispy, and another side of bacon.”
The waitress jots it down, smiles, and walks away.
“One day you’ll have to change your eating habits.”
Susan offers advice I don’t want, so I say nothing since the man who taught me not to say anything if I didn’t have anything nice to say is sitting right next to me. Hate for him to think I don’t take any of his fatherly advice.
“As I was saying, my bag is already packed and if Lucy does as I asked, she should be at the inn, waiting for my return with her own bags packed. This was never more than a quick trip in and out.” Susan pretends like she’s so proper with her chin tilted up, gazing down at us. As if we’re having tea with lemon wedges and shortbread cookies at high noon. She always thought she was hot shit because she was a professor. Someone needs to remind her that Anchorage College and Harvard aren’t exactly the same. Not that I’m bashing my alma mater.
“Marla and I would be happy to have Lucy stay with us.”
Again I choke on my coffee. Why does Dad throw this shit out there right as I take a drink? I bet he’s doing it on purpose since I went against his wishes last night.
“Yeah, um, no.” She pours another artificial sugar in her cup, the spoon stirring constantly. All I want to do is take the spoon out of her cup and fling it across the room. “She’ll come back to Idaho with me.”
“Are you sure you don’t just want her to forget her life here? Forget Adam?” my dad asks in a sterner voice.
I could probably sneak out of this conversation. The kids playing over at the gazebo are having way more fun than me.
“Whatever happened that your son is being so tight-lipped about is the reason she left. They were over before the accident.” Susan continues to stir her coffee.
“All she said was she wasn’t happy,” I chime in.
Susan says nothing and rolls her eyes as though she doesn’t believe me. “Convenient that you’re already seeing someone.”
I slide out of the booth to leave before my anger gets the better of me, but I stand at the end of the table, unable to keep the words inside. “Alicia and I are a new thing, and it isn’t serious. I’ve had the year from hell without your daughter in my life. I don’t want to share that with you, but I will so you’ll stop assuming this is my fault. She walked out on me. I didn’t cheat on her, I didn’t hit her, I didn’t lie to her. There was no reason for her to leave me, but she did. Now she’s back in town, not even remembering why she decided to walk out on our marriage. If you want to let all those memories stay hidden, for her never to become the Lucy we all love, then shame on you, Susan.”
She leans back, gaping at my dad as though he should put me over his knee and spank me. “Are you honestly questioning my intentions for Lucy’s recovery?”
I huff. “I’m questioning your intentions of making sure Lucy remembers every part of her past. Maybe your hatred for our family has twisted your decision-making ability.”
“Adam.” My dad clears his throat, but before he can add another word, I continue.
“Let’s be honest, Susan. You’re afraid I can worm myself into your daughter’s heart again. Then if she doesn’t remember why she left me, there’s a good chance we might get back together and that’d be your worst nightmare. Even if I was the one who took care of your daughter, loved her with my entire heart, and you were the one who chose not to come to our wedding and wrote her off.”
“Adam,” my dad says again.
I lean in over the table, lowering my voice, thankful we’re not in Sunrise Bay. “But you don’t have to worry because losing Lucy made me feel dead inside. I never want to feel that pain again. It was like someone put my