The Problem with Fire - M.E. Clayton Page 0,32

a clue how to have the life’s-not-fair talk with an emotional teenage girl. “People make mistakes all the time. Are you saying they should pay for those mistakes forever?”

“No,” she answered. “But then, he didn’t make a mistake, Mom. He made a choice. A choice that change both of our lives forever, and he never looked back. He’s never even apologized. That’s how selfish he is.”

“Honey-”

She jumped off the barstool, absolutely livid at Thomas. “I hope you are dating Mr. Hayes, and it breaks Dad’s heart!” she yelled before rushing out of the kitchen, her bedroom door slamming so hard, it made the windows shake.

I let the tears fall and felt pummeled by the helplessness I was feeling at not being able to help my child. What had struck me the most, though, was how she had said that Thomas has never apologized to her. Did that mean they’ve never even discussed what he’d done beyond the very first time when it had been happening? Has he really not spoken to her about what had happened and her feelings about it all?

I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt because he really has always been a good father, but then I realized that I kept basing that off when we’d all been a family. I really had no idea what kind of father he’s been these past three years. I assumed that only our relationship had changed and not his and Leta’s, but I was seeing just how wrong I might have been.

I did a mental review of all the alcohol in the house because I was kidnapping Karma tomorrow, and we were going to drink this crap day away.

I was probably going to need more alcohol.

Chapter 16

Sayer~

This adulting crap was complicated. More so when other people just wouldn’t butt out of your business. Case in point, I was staring at my phone as it asked me to accept a conference call with my brothers. I clicked accept, though, knowing this couldn’t be good.

“How in the fuck are you getting married and haven’t told Mom yet?” Gideon asked in lieu of a greeting.

Nathan was shaking his head. “Are you insane?”

I stared at both my brothers’ faces on my screen. “What are you talking about?” I haven’t spoken to Nathan since he called when he was in Chicago. And I’d only spoken to Gideon when he had called to thank me for calling our mother. Oh, and to also tell me to quick being a dick and to call her more often.

“I got a text message from Jake telling me to save-the-date,” Gideon explained.

Nathan snorted. “Mine said to save the entire month of April,” he said. “Who in the hell hogs an entire month to get married?”

“My text said the same thing, but I’m busy,” Gideon said. “I’m not setting aside the entire month of April. I’ve got shit to do.”

“You’re busy?” Nathan scoffed. “Baseball season is just barely getting underway in April. If anyone’s busy, it’s me.”

“Bullshit,” Gideon flung back. “Besides, does it even matter? Mom’s going to kill him for not telling her anyway.”

“You got a point,” Nathan agreed.

“I’m not getting married!” I shouted into the phone. I was going to kill Jake. We had agreed yesterday that he’d tone it down until I actually asked Monroe to marry me.

Like in a year, or so.

“Then why is Jake sending out save-the-dates?” Nathan asked. At the station, we had an emergency contact list where we all had the phone numbers of each other’s immediate family in case the worst happened. And those numbers have never been abused, until now.

I was going to kill Jake.

“And I got a text from Kellen, letting me know that we were going to rock-paper-scissors for Best Man,” Gideon added. “So, sounds like you’re getting married, big brother.”

I was going to kill Kellen.

“Which is bullshit, if you ask me,” Nathan remarked. “Of course, I’m going to be Best Man.”

“Says who?” Gideon barked.

“I’m the baby,” Nathan reasoned. “So, that’s-”

“I. Am. Not. Getting. Married,” I repeated. “Hear me, gentlemen. Please. I’m not getting married.” Their faces, so identical to mine and our fathers, just stared at me through my phone. “We just had our first date on Sunday. Jake and Kellen are getting ahead of themselves.”

“The sexy neighbor?” Nathan asked, and I nodded.

“It’s about goddamn time,” Gideon said sourly. “It’s only been two years.”

“Months, you asshole,” I corrected. “Two months.”

“Feels like years,” Nathan muttered.

“So, what? Are you so confident in your charms, marriage is a foregone