





Weโd barely taken one step when Cynicโs phone rang. He let go of me to grab the phone. โThatโs Harโs ringtone. I gotta take this.โ
He stepped further down the hallway, leaving me with his parents.
โIโve got to use the restroom. Iโll be right back, dear,โ Teresa said.
Irv stood when she did. I debated going with her, but I had no need.
Irv stepped a little closer. โIโm glad we have this moment. If you havenโt figured it out, I like you for him. The last eight years have been difficult, not just for him, but for his mother and me. We want him to be happy, and I know, for some people, marriage isnโt for them.โ
I nodded, and faintly drawled, โRight.โ
โMy boy isnโt one of those people. He was happy as a clam with Jessica. She stomped his heart flat with what she did.โ
I gave him a closed-lip smile. โI know, sir, and it took quite a bit to convince Cynic that I wouldnโt do anything like that to him.โ
He stared into my eyes for a long, uncomfortable moment before he finally spoke. โSee that you donโt. Youโre beautiful and appear to make him happy, but if you betray him like that, itโll break him.โ
โI did not just hear you,โ Cynic ground out in a sinister voice.
I turned around and put a hand to his chest. But he only had eyes for his pop. Still, I said, โCalm down. He didnโt do anything wrong, honey.โ
That got me his angry eyes. โHe didnโt? Warning you not to betray me isnโt wrong?โ He looked past me to his dad, but said, โIt isnโt his place to do that shit.โ
I rubbed his name patch on his cut. โIsnโt it though? Youโll always be his son, no matter your age. Family looks out for family, โNic.โ
His chin dipped down and he looked into my eyes. The anger had dissipated. โHe doesnโt need to.โ
My lips quirked to the side skeptically. โThat doesnโt matter. He loves you. Itโs what parents do.โ
โWhatโs going on?โ Teresa asked as she walked up to us.
โDadโs oversteppingโฆ as usual.โ
โHe is not,โ I whispered.
โI was. I am. And Iโll do it again,โ Irv said, clapping Cynic on the bicep.






